Effects of orange juice and hesperetin on serum paraoxonase activity and lipid profile in hyperuricemic rats

Hesperidin reduces serum levels of triglyceride after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Hesperidin, as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, has beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the effects of hesperidin supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid profile in depressed coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) patients. Eighty patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery participated in this clinical trial and were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group received 200 mg/d pure hesperidin supplement and the second group received placebo for 12 weeks. Both groups continued their usual diet. Serum concentrations of inflammatory and stress oxidative markers (hs-CRP, P-selectin, and ox-LDL) were measured and compared at baseline and the end of the intervention. The changes in serum levels of triglyceride were significantly different between the two groups (p < .05). HDL-c significantly increased in groups but the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (p > .05). Hesperidin did not affect FBS, other lipid parameters, hs-CRP, P-selectin, and OX-LDL (p > .05). SBP and DBP differences were not statistically significant (p > .05). After 12 weeks of intervention, hesperidin reduced serum levels of triglyceride in depressed post-CABG patients.

Anti-hyperuricemia effect of hesperetin is mediated by inhibiting the activity of xanthine oxidase and promoting excretion of uric acid

Hesperetin is a natural flavonoid with many biological activities. In view of hyperuricemia treatment, the effects of hesperetin in vivo and in vitro, and the underlying mechanisms, were explored. Hyperuricemia models induced by yeast extract (YE) or potassium oxonate (PO) in mice were created, as were models based on hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase (XOD) in L-O2 cells and sodium urate in HEK293T cells. Serum level of uric acid (UA), creatinine (CRE), and urea nitrogen (BUN) were reduced significantly after hesperetin treatment in vivo. Hesperetin provided hepatoprotective effects and inhibited xanthine oxidase activity markedly, altered the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT), downregulated the XOD protein expression, toll-like receptor (TLR)4, nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, interleukin-18 (IL-18), upregulated forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in a uric acid-synthesis model in mice. Protein expression of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), OAT3, organic cationic transporter 1 (OCT1), and OCT2 was upregulated by hesperetin intervention in a uric acid excretion model in mice. Our results proposal that hesperetin exerts a uric acid-lowering effect through inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity and protein expression, intervening in the TLR4-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, and up-regulating expression of FOXO3a, MnSOD, OAT1, OAT3, OCT1, and OCT2 proteins. Thus, hesperetin could be a promising therapeutic agent against hyperuricemia.

Possible role of l-carnitine in improvement of metabolic and hepatic changes in hyperuricemic and hyperuricemic-Fructose-supplemented rats

Hyperuricemia was linked to diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and oxidative stress, and could be induced by higher fructose consumption through altering energy status in liver. l-Carnitine is an antioxidant, affecting mitochondria and cellular energetics; however, little is known about its effects in hyperuricemic states. This study investigated metabolic and hepatic effects of hyperuricemia and fructose feeding, and demonstrated the role of l-Carnitine in such states. Fifty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, untreated hyperuricemic, fructose-supplemented hyperuricemic, l-Carnitine-treated hyperuricemic, and l-Carnitine-treated fructose-supplemented hyperuricemic groups. The separated plasma was used for determination of the glycemic control, lipid profile, liver function tests, uric acid level, and oxidative stress markers. Atherogenic index, HOMA-IR, and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Left liver lobe and left kidney specimen from all groups were used for histopathological studies. Hyperuricemic rats exhibited significantly hypoalbuminemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress compared to the controls. Fructose-supplemented hyperuricemic group showed obesity and more deleterious effects, as well as, steatosis, and renal tubular damage compared to the hyperuricemic rats. Concomitant l-Carnitine treatment with hyperuricemia improved such effects, despite causing adiposity. While combined l-Carnitine treatment and fructose supplementation in hyperuricemia limited the aggressive hyperuricemic picture of fructose supplementation. It is concluded that hyperuricemia has detrimental metabolic and hepatic effects. Artificial fructose supplementation worsened such effects, while l-Carnitine was efficient in ameliorating these hyperuricemia and/or excess fructose-induced hyperuricemia effects, through its anti-inflammatory, antisteatotic, and antioxidant properties.

Reverse Cholesterol Transport: Molecular Mechanisms and the Non-medical Approach to Enhance HDL Cholesterol

Dyslipidemia (high concentrations of LDL-c and low concentrations of HDL-c) is a major cause of cardiovascular events, which are the leading cause of death in the world. On the other hand, nutrition and regular exercise can be an interesting strategy to modulate lipid profile, acting as prevention or treatment, inhibiting the risk of diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic characteristics. Additionally, the possibility of controlling different training variables, such as type, intensity and recovery interval, can be used to maximize the benefits of exercise in promoting cardiovascular health. However, the mechanisms by which exercise and nutrients act in the regulation of cholesterol and its fractions, such as reverse cholesterol transport, receptors and transcription factors involved, such as PPARs and their role related to exercise, deserve further discussion. Therefore, the objective of this review is to debate about non-medical approaches to increase HDL-c, such as nutritional and training strategies, and to discuss the central mechanisms involved in the modulation of lipid profile during exercise, as well as that can be controlled by physical trainers or sports specialists in attempt to maximize the benefits promoted by exercise. The search for papers was performed in the databases: Medline (Pubmed), Science Direct, Scopus, Sport Discus, Web of Science, Scielo and Lilacs until February 2016.

Effects of Dietary Flavonoids on Reverse Cholesterol Transport, HDL Metabolism, and HDL Function

Strong experimental evidence confirms that HDL directly alleviates atherosclerosis. HDL particles display diverse atheroprotective functions in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic processes. In certain inflammatory disease states, however, HDL particles may become dysfunctional and proatherogenic. Flavonoids show the potential to improve HDL function through their well-documented effects on cellular antioxidant status and inflammation. The aim of this review is to summarize the basic science and clinical research examining the effects of dietary flavonoids on RCT and HDL function. Based on preclinical studies that used cell culture and rodent models, it appears that many flavonoids (e.g., anthocyanidins, flavonols, and flavone subclasses) influence RCT and HDL function beyond simple HDL cholesterol concentration by regulating cellular cholesterol efflux from macrophages and hepatic paraoxonase 1 expression and activity. In clinical studies, dietary anthocyanin intake is associated with beneficial changes in serum biomarkers related to HDL function in a variety of human populations (e.g., in those who are hyperlipidemic, hypertensive, or diabetic), including increased HDL cholesterol concentration, as well as HDL antioxidant and cholesterol efflux capacities. However, clinical research on HDL functionality is lacking for some flavonoid subclasses (e.g., flavanols, flavones, flavanones, and isoflavones). Although there has been a tremendous effort to develop HDL-targeted drug therapies, more research is warranted on how the intake of foods or specific nutrients affects HDL function.