title: Ascorbic acid supplementation prevents hyperlipidemia and improves myocardial performance in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
abstract: The present study investigated the effects of ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation on the cardiac performance and the plasma levels of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol and free fatty acid in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 55 mg/kg. AA was given in drinking water in concentrations of 1 g/l or 2 g/l for 8 weeks after STZ injection. Myocardial performance was determined using the isolated perfused working heart preparations. Following AA supplementation, there were no significant changes in any of the parameters measured in non-diabetic rats; however, the occurrence of polydipsia, hyperphagia, hyperlipidemia and myocardial dysfunction in STZ-diabetic rats was significantly alleviated in a dose-dependent manner. Nevertheless, the decreased body weight gain, hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia in diabetic animals were not affected. The data show that AA supplementation in STZ-diabetic rats improves both hyperlipidemia and cardiac function. However, the mechanisms of these effects and the correlation between these improvements are not clear.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McNeill
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006325:Heart Atria; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D014867:Water; D002784:Cholesterol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid