title: Dietary antioxidants preserve endothelium dependent vasorelaxation in overfed rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A high fat diet contributes to obesity and acutely impairs endothelium dependent vasorelaxation. While a high cholesterol diet chronically impairs endothelium dependent vasorelaxation in rabbits, this model is associated with severe hypercholesterolemia. The effect of chronic high fat feeding on endothelial function in the setting of more normal lipid levels has not been studied. Our aim was to study vascular function in rats overfed for 6 months and to determine the role of oxidative stress in the alteration of vascular function associated with this diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on the following diets for 6 months, control diet, high fat diet or high fat diet supplemented with vitamins A, E and selenium. Six months later blood samples were collected and vascular function was assessed in the aorta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rats fed a high fat diet were heavier than controls (608.4 +/- 41.8 vs. 700.3 +/- 50.1 vs. 699.5 +/- 52.6 g, P<0.05 for control vs. high fat and high fat plus antioxidant groups) but lipid levels were similar in each group (cholesterol, 145.9 +/- 53.4 vs. 140.5 +/- 44.0 vs. 152.7 +/- 36.1 mg/dl and triglycerides, 173.2 +/- 106.7 vs. 197.4 +/- 131.3 vs. 166.1 +/- 65.3 mg/dl, P, NS). Relaxations to acetylcholine and calcium were significantly impaired in the high fat diet group compared with controls (EC(50), 6.90 +/- 0.22, 7.12 +/- 0.32; AUC, 96.9 +/- 51.6, 155.5 +/ - 73.7) but were not different between the antioxidant supplemented group and controls (EC(50), 7.06 +/- 0.37; AUC, 151.9 +/- 67.4). Relaxations to DEA NONOate were similar in each group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary antioxidants preserved endothelium dependent vasorelaxation in rats fed a high fat diet for 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Jun'ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Zvonimir S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Katusic
authors.forename: Aizhong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nygren
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: K Sreekumaran
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011336:Probability; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012643:Selenium