The combined treatment with lentil protein hydrolysate and a mixed training protocol is an efficient lifestyle intervention to manage cardiovascular and renal alterations in obese Zucker rats

Supplementation with okra combined or not with exercise training is able to protect the heart of animals with metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clinical manifestation strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, the main cause of death worldwide. In view of this scenario, many therapeutic proposals have appeared in order to optimize the treatment of individuals with MetS, including the practice of exercise training (ET) and the consumption of okra (O). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of O consumption and/or ET in animals with MetS. In all, 32 male Zucker rats (fa/fa) at 10 weeks old were randomly distributed into four groups of 8 animals each: MetS, MetS+O, MetS+ET and MetS+ET+O, and 8 lean Zucker rats (fa/ +) comprised the control group. Okra was administered by orogastric gavage 2x/day (morning and night, 100 mg/kg), 5 days/week, for 6 weeks. The ET was performed on a treadmill 1x/day (afternoon), 5 days/week, 60 min/day, in an intensity of 70% of maximal capacity, for the same days of O treatment. It was found that, O consumption alone was able to promote improved insulin sensitivity (MetS 93.93 ± 8.54 mg/dL vs. MetS+O 69.95 ± 18.7 mg/dL, p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.65, CI = 50.32 -89.58, triglyceride reduction (MetS 492.9 ± 97.8 mg/dL vs. MetS+O 334.9 ± 98.0 mg/dL, p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.61, CI = 193.2-398.7). In addition, it promoted a reduction in systolic blood pressure (MetS 149.0 ± 9.3 mmHg vs. MetS+O 132.0 ± 11.4 mmHg, p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.63, CI = 120-140), prevented an increase in cardiac collagen (MetS 12.60 ± 2.08% vs. MetS+O 7.52 ± 0.77%, p ≤ 0.05, d = 3.24, CI = 6.56-8.49). When associated with ET, the results were similar. Thus, we conclude that O consumption combined or not with aerobic ET can have a protective effect on the cardiac tissue of rats with MetS.

Microencapsulated bioactive peptides from brewer's spent grain promotes antihypertensive and antidiabetogenic effects on a hypertensive and insulin-resistant rat model

The effects of microcapsules containing brewer's spent grain (BSG) peptides were evaluated on a hypertensive/insulin-resistant rat model induced by a sucrose-rich diet (SRD) administration. Animals received for 100 days the control diet (CD), SRD, and CD and SRD diets supplemented with microencapsulated peptides (CD-P and SRD-P). During the experimental period, blood pressure was monitored. Glycemia, tissue glycogen content, nitric oxide, and the activity of enzymes related to hypertensive and diabetogenic mechanisms were determined. The consumption of SRD caused hypertensive and hyperglycemic effects compared to CD. However, the SRD-P group presented lower systolic pressure at the middle of ingestion, achieving similar values than the CD. The SRD-P rats decreased all enzymes' activities compared to the SRD reaching the values of CD, except for those of α-amylase in cecal content and DPP-IV in serum. It was possible to corroborate potential antihypertensive and antidiabetogenic in vivo effects of the microencapsulated BSG peptides. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the main waste obtained from brewing industry. Bioactive peptides obtained after an enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins with in vitro antihypertensive and antidiabetogenic activity have been described. However, to corroborate the action of these bioactive peptides, in vivo studies are necessary. In the present work, microcapsules containing bioactive peptides from BSG were administered on the rat model with induced hypertension and insulin-resistance, corroborating an in vivo antihypertensive and antidiabetogenic effects by inhibition of enzymes related with blood pressure regulation and glucose metabolism. This work demonstrated that microcapsules of BSG peptides could be included into functional foods formulations, or used as dietary supplement for improving health and the prevention of non-communicable diseases, adding value to the brewing process by-product.

Health Benefits of Cereal Grain- and Pulse-Derived Proteins

Pulses and whole grains are considered staple foods that provide a significant amount of calories, fibre and protein, making them key food sources in a nutritionally balanced diet. Additionally, pulses and whole grains contain many bioactive compounds such as dietary fibre, resistant starch, phenolic compounds and mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids that are known to combat chronic disease. Notably, recent research has demonstrated that protein derived from pulse and whole grain sources contains bioactive peptides that also possess disease-fighting properties. Mechanisms of action include inhibition or alteration of enzyme activities, vasodilatation, modulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiome and oxidative stress reduction. Consumer demand for plant-based proteins has skyrocketed primarily based on the perceived health benefits and lower carbon footprint of consuming foods from plant sources versus animal. Therefore, more research should be invested in discovering the health-promoting effects that pulse and whole grain proteins have to offer.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Tart Cherry Consumption in the Heart of Obese Rats

Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, frequently related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Dietary antioxidant compounds improve heart health. Here, we estimate the oxidative grade and inflammation in the heart of dietary-induced obese (DIO) rats after exposure to a high-fat diet compared to a standard diet. The effects of tart cherry seed powder and seed powder plus tart cherries juice were explored. Morphological analysis and protein expressions were performed in the heart. The oxidative status was assessed by the measurement of protein oxidation and 4-hydroxynonenal in samples. Immunochemical and Western blot assays were performed to elucidate the involved inflammatory markers as proinflammatory cytokines and cellular adhesion molecules. In the obese rats, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was accompanied by an increase in oxidative state proteins and lipid peroxidation. However, the intake of tart cherries significantly changed these parameters. An anti-inflammatory effect was raised from tart cherry consumption, as shown by the downregulation of analyzed endothelial cell adhesion molecules and cytokines compared to controls. Tart cherry intake should be recommended as a dietary supplement to prevent or counteract heart injury in obese conditions.

Caloric restriction, physical exercise, and CB1 receptor blockade as an efficient combined strategy for bodyweight control and cardiometabolic status improvement in male rats

Obesity is critically associated with the development of insulin resistance and related cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Several strategies for weight loss have been developed but most of them exhibit a post-intervention rebound effect. Here, we aimed to design combined weight-loss strategies of caloric restriction, physical exercise, and administration of a CB1 receptor blocker to inhibit food intake that also accomplish the objectives of lost-weight maintenance and improvement of cardiovascular and renal function. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) was generated in Sprague Dawley rats for 12 weeks to test the effects of single or combined strategies (i.e. caloric restriction, mixed training protocol, and/or administration of appetite suppressant) on caloric intake, body weight, cardiovascular and renal functionality resulting from a weight-loss intervention period of 3 weeks followed by 6 weeks of weight maintenance. Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) caused a significant increase in body weight (5th week of the experimental period) and led to the development of insulin resistance, cardiovascular, and renal alterations. The different interventions tested, resulted in a significant body weight loss and improved glucose metabolism, aerobic capacity, electrocardiographic parameters, vascular expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators, and renal functionality, reaching values similar to the control normocaloric group or even improving them. Successful maintenance of lost weight was achieved along a 6-week maintenance period in addition to adequate health status. In conclusion, the weight-loss and maintenance intervention strategies tested were efficient at reversing the obesity-related alterations in body weight, glucose metabolism, aerobic capacity, cardiovascular and renal functionality. The beneficial action was very consistent for caloric restriction and physical exercise, whereas administration of a CB1 receptor blocker complemented the effects of the prior interventions in some parameters like body weight or aerobic capacity, and showed specific actions in renal status, increasing glomerular filtration rate and diuresis. Overall, the novelty of our study relies on the easy implementation of combined strategies for effective weight management that resulted in significant health benefits.

Cardiovascular Changes Related to Metabolic Syndrome: Evidence in Obese Zucker Rats

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a predictor of cardiovascular diseases, commonly associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the pathogenic mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. The aim of the study is to evaluate the oxidative status and inflammation in the heart of obese Zucker rats (OZRs) and lean Zucker rats (LZRs) at different ages. Morphological and morphometric analyses were performed in the heart. To study the oxidative status, the malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), protein oxidation, and antioxidant enzymes were measured in plasma and heart. To elucidate the inflammatory markers involved, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed for cellular adhesion molecules and proinflammatory cytokines. OZRs were characterized by hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance. The obesity increased MDA and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in plasma as well as in the heart, associated with cardiomyocytes hypertrophy. OxyBlot in plasma and in heart showed an increase of oxidativestate proteins in OZRs. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α expressions in OZRs were higher than those of LZRs. However, these processes did not induce apoptosis or necrosis of cardiomyocytes. Thus, MetS induces the lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant defense that leads to heart tissue changes and coronary inflammation.