Vitamin C Improves Inflammatory-related Redox Status in Hyperlipidemic Rats

Excessive dietary fat is mainly responsible for metabolic diseases including atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We have evaluated the role of Vitamin C in an experimental hyperlipidemic model of rats (male Wistar rat 12-16 months). The hyperlipidemic model of the rat was created by treatment with an atherogenic suspension: cholesterol, cholic acid, and coconut oil, for 30 days once daily, and supplemented with Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) doses of 0.5 g/kg body weight (orally) for the 30 days once daily. Bodyweight, fasting glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, ROS (Reactive oxygen species), MDA (Malondialdehyde), FRAP (Ferric reducing the ability of plasma), GSH (Reduced glutathione), PCO (Protein carbonyl), PON-1(Paraoxonase-1), AGE (Advanced glycation end product), PMRS (Plasma membrane reduced system), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were estimated in blood and plasma. Our result shows that oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, were increased in the HFD-treated group of rats. Vitamin C supplementation protected against lipidemic and, oxidative stress. We conclude that Vitamin C may be useful in maintaining cellular redox balance and protecting against lipidemic stress.