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Effects of the cacao flavanol (‐)‐epicatechin on a rat model of metabolic syndrome
Author(s) -
Ceballos Guillermo,
Chamorro German,
Ortiz Pilar,
Gutierrez Gabriela,
Villarreal Francisco
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.877.4
Subject(s) - metabolic syndrome , blood pressure , diabetes mellitus , medicine , bioenergetics , endocrinology , body weight , chemistry , physiology , pharmacology , mitochondrion , biochemistry
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of conditions that include increased blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, excess body fat and abnormal lipid levels that when present together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. An underlying defect of MS is detrimental changes in mitochondrial structure/function which adversely affects cellular bioenergetics (i.e. metabolism). Flavonoids are natural occurring compounds that are known for having beneficial effects on health and are recognized as safe and non‐toxic. Cacao contains by weight the greatest amounts of flavanols in particular, (‐)‐epicatechin (EPI). We have demonstrated that EPI increases mitochondrial volume and cristae density. In this study, we examined the effects that low dose EPI (1 mg/kg/day by gavage) has on a rat model of MS. MS was induced in male Sprague‐Dawley rats of 8 weeks of age (~200 g weight) by the use of a high cholesterol and high fructose diet given for 7 weeks. Two treatment schemes were tested. In a preventive scheme, EPI was given every day together with the MS diet. In a therapeutic scheme EPI was given for 10 days after the 7 week MS diet implementation. Animals had body weight recorded, blood chemistry and nitrate levels as well as blood pressure. The use of EPI as preventive led to notable and significant improvements in all measured parameters. The use of EPI as a therapeutic intervention also led to improvements in MS endpoints. In conclusion, results indicate that the use of EPI at low doses leads to significant improvements in MS endpoints when used under a preventive or therapeutic scheme.