Mechanisms of the cardioprotective effect of a diet enriched with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Structure-antioxidant activity relationships of o-hydroxyl, o-methoxy, and alkyl ester derivatives of p-hydroxybenzoic acid

Anti-DPPH radical effect as well as anti-peroxide activity of o-hydroxyl, o-methoxy, and alkyl ester derivatives of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in a bulk fish oil system and its O/W emulsion were investigated. Electronic phenomena, intra- and/or intermolecular hydrogen bonds, interfacial properties, and chemical reaction of the solvent molecules with phenolic compounds were considered to be mainly involved in the antiradical activities observed. Antioxidant activity of the phenolic acids derivatives as a function of these factors was variously affected by the environmental conditions which may occur in practice.

Antioxidant activity of gallic acid and methyl gallate in triacylglycerols of Kilka fish oil and its oil-in-water emulsion

The anti-DPPH radical effect as well as anti-peroxide activity of gallic acid, methyl gallate, and α-tocopherol in a bulk Kilka fish oil and its oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by soy protein isolate at 55°C were investigated. Gallic acid with the lowest hydrophobicity (log P=-0.28) was found to be the most active antiradical agent (IC50=29.5 μM), followed by methyl gallate (IC50=38.0 μM, log P=-0.23) and α-tocopherol (IC50=105.3 μM, log P=0.70). The anti-peroxide activity in the bulk oil system decreased in the order of methyl gallate>gallic acid>α-tocopherol. In the emulsion system, methyl gallate still behaved better than gallic acid, but the highest activity belonged to α-tocopherol. Based on the calculation of a number of kinetic parameters, the antioxidants, in general, showed better performances in the bulk oil system than in the emulsion system.

The role of Odontella aurita, a marine diatom rich in EPA, as a dietary supplement in dyslipidemia, platelet function and oxidative stress in high-fat fed rats

BACKGROUND

Dietary changes are a major factor in determining cardiovascular risk. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the risk factors for metabolic syndrome via multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of the lipid metabolism. We therefore investigated the effect of Odontella aurita, a microalga rich in EPA, which is already used as a food supplement, on the risk factors for high-fat diet induced metabolic syndrome in rats.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups and were fed with a standard diet (control); with the standard diet supplemented with 3% freeze-dried O. aurita (COA); with a high-fat diet (HF); or with the high-fat diet supplemented with 3% of freeze-dried O. aurita (HFOA) for 7 weeks. In this study we evaluated the impact of these different diets on the risk factors for metabolic syndrome, such as hyperlipidemia, platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2 production, and oxidative stress.

RESULTS

After 7 weeks of treatment, high fat feeding had increased final body weight, glycemia, triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol levels in plasma and liver compared to the control diet. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation and basal platelet thromboxane B2 were also higher in the high-fat fed rats than in those in the control group. In the liver, oxidative stress was greater in the HF group than in the control group. O. aurita intake in HFOA-fed rats resulted in lower glycemia and lipid levels in the plasma and liver relative than in the HF group. Thus, in the HFOA group, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in the tissues studied (plasma, liver, and platelets) were higher than in the HF group. Platelet hyper-aggregability tended to decrease in HFOA-fed rats as basal platelet thromboxane B2 production decreased. Finally, O. aurita reduced oxidative stress in the liver, with lower malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione peroxidase activity.

CONCLUSIONS

O. aurita is a marine diatom rich in EPA as well as in other bioactive molecules, such as pigments. The synergistic effect of these microalgal compounds, displayed a beneficial effect in reducing the risk factors for high-fat induced metabolic syndrome: hyperlipidemia, platelet aggregation, and oxidative stress.

Effect of moderate hypoxia/reoxygenation on mitochondrial adaptation to acute severe hypoxia

In an experimental model, it was shown that repetitive periods of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) [5 cycles of 5 min hypoxia (12% O(2) in N(2) ) followed by 15 min normoxia, daily for three weeks] attenuated basal and stimulated in vitro lipid peroxidation, as well as H(2)O(2) production in liver and brain mitochondria of rats exposed to acute severe hypoxia. Adaptation to moderate H/R enhanced in mitochondria the production and activity of reactive oxygen species scavengers, such as glutathione, manganese superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase. It was demonstrated that the maintenance of GSH-redox cycle by activation of glutathione reductase and NADP(+) -dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase is an integral part of the biochemical adaptive mechanism of oxidative tolerance to new damaging factor. Brain mitochondria showed more sensitivity to oxidative stress than liver mitochondria, and long-lasting sessions of H/R affect differentially their pro-/antioxidant homeostasis.

Effect of unsaturated fatty acids on myocardial performance, metabolism and morphology

Diets rich in saturated fatty acids are one of the most important causes of atherosclerosis in men, and have been replaced with diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) for the prevention of this disorder. However, the effect of UFA on myocardial performance, metabolism and morphology has not been completely characterized. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of a UFA-rich diet on cardiac muscle function, oxidative stress, and morphology. Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats were fed a control (N = 8) or a UFA-rich diet (N = 8) for 60 days. Myocardial performance was studied in isolated papillary muscle by isometric and isotonic contractions under basal conditions after calcium chloride (5.2 mM) and ss-adrenergic stimulation with 1.0 microM isoproterenol. Fragments of the left ventricle free wall were used to study oxidative stress and were analyzed by light microscopy, and the myocardial ultrastructure was examined in left ventricle papillary muscle. After 60 days the UFA-rich diet did not change myocardial function. However, it caused high lipid hydroperoxide (176 +/- 5 vs 158 +/- 5, P < 0.0005) and low catalase (7 +/- 1 vs 9 +/- 1, P < 0.005) and superoxide-dismutase (18 +/- 2 vs 27 +/- 5, P < 0.005) levels, and discrete morphological changes in UFA-rich diet hearts such as lipid deposits and mitochondrial membrane alterations compared to control rats. These data show that a UFA-rich diet caused myocardial oxidative stress and mild structural alterations, but did not change mechanical function.

Adaptation to Periodic Hypoxia and Hyperoxia Improves Resistance of Membrane Structures in Heart, Liver, and Brain

A novel principle of short-term periodic adaptive training by varying the oxygen level from hypo- to hyperoxia is substantiated both theoretically and experimentally. Short-term adaptation to hypoxia-normoxia produced a membrane-protective effect in the heart and cerebral cortex, but increased the sensitivity to free radical oxidation and decreased the level of components of the antioxidant defense system in the liver. Hypo-hyperoxia adaptation produced a membrane-stabilizing effect in the heart, brain, and liver, which was more pronounced compared to the effect of hypoxia-normoxia training. In contrast to hypoxia-normoxia adaptation, in case of hypo-hyperoxia training the adaptive defense developed as early as 15 days after the start of training.