title: Chronic consumption of a flavanol- and procyanindin-rich diet is associated with reduced levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in rat testes.
abstract: Cocoa can contain a high concentration of flavanols and procyanidins which have been reported to have strong antioxidative activity. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing 0, 0.5, 1, or 2% cocoa rich in flavanols for two weeks. Blood, liver, heart and testes were collected and analyzed for markers of oxidative damage. Plasma epicatechin concentrations, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OH2'dG), and oxidized and reduced glutathione were quantitated by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Plasma F(2)-isoprostanes were measured using an enzyme immunoassay. Plasma epicatechin concentrations increased in a dose-dependant fashion according to the amount of cocoa in the diet (128 nM-790 nM). Cocoa supplementation was associated with lower than normal concentrations of 8OH2'dG in the testes (0.590 + 0.40 vs. 0.328 + 0.29; p < 0.05). Liver and heart 8OH2'dG levels were unaffected by dietary treatment. In erythrocytes, the glutathione pool was significantly less oxidized in the cocoa fed group compared to controls (p < 0.05). In liver and testes, no differences in superoxide dismutase activities were detected. Concentrations of plasma F(2)-isoprostanes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were similar in all groups. These results support the concept that a diet rich in flavanols and procyanidins can improve oxidant defense and reduce tissue markers for oxidative stress, although these effects can be tissue specific.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Orozco
authors.forename: Janice F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Carl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Keen
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044946:Biflavonoids; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet; D019281:Dimerization; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes / Q000097:blood; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044948:Flavonols; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D044946:Biflavonoids; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes; D005419:Flavonoids; D044948:Flavonols; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C017674:procyanidin; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D002392:Catechin; D003849:Deoxyguanosine; D005978:Glutathione