title: A high-fat diet induces and red wine counteracts endothelial dysfunction in human volunteers.
abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is associated with atherogenesis and oxidative stress in humans. In rat and rabbit blood vessels, wine polyphenol antioxidants induce vascular relaxation in vitro through the NO-cGMP pathway. To assess the effect of a regular high-fat diet (HFD) and moderate red wine consumption on endothelial function (EF), a study was performed in healthy male volunteers. EF was measured as flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, employing high-resolution ultrasound after an overnight fast. Other clinical and biochemical parameters related to EF were also measured. Six volunteers received a control diet, rich in fruits and vegetables (27% calories as fat) and five volunteers received an HFD (39.5% calories as fat). Measurements were done twice on each volunteer: after a period of 30 d with diet plus 240 mL of red wine/d, and after a period of 30 d with diet, without wine. In the absence of wine, there is a reduction of EF with HFD when compared to the control diet (P = 0.014). This loss of EF is not seen when both diets are supplemented with wine for 30 d (P = 0.001). Plasma levels of n-3 fatty acids (R2 = 0.232, P = 0.023) and lycopene (R2 = 0.223, P = 0.020) show a positive correlation with individual EF measurements, but they do not account for the significant differences observed among dietary groups or after wine supplementation. These results help elucidate the deleterious effect of a high-fat diet and the protective role of wine, n-3 fatty acids and dietary antioxidants in cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Metabolism & Diabetes, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guasch
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Irribarra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mizon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: San Martin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leighton
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D005638:Fruit; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014675:Vegetables; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014920:Wine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000637:Transaminases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D014805:Vitamin B 12