Effect of antioxidant capacity on blood lipid metabolism and lipoprotein lipase activity of rats fed a high-fat diet.
OBJECTIVE
The present study explored the effect of antioxidant capacity on blood lipid metabolism and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity of rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Furthermore, the relation of the atherosclerotic index (AI) and LPL activity to total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was studied.


METHODS
Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 8). The control group consumed an ordinary diet (5.1% fat, w/w). The other three experimental groups were fed with an HFD (14.1% fat, w/w), an HFD plus 0.1% lipoic acid (LA), or an HFD plus 0.1% N-acetylcysteine (NAC). After 4 wk, serum levels of triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and LPL activity were examined. To evaluate rats' antioxidant status, TAC and superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde level were measured.


RESULTS
The HFD induced abnormal increases in lipid peroxidation, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Decreased activity of LPL, accompanied by a depressed antioxidant defense system, was observed in HFD-fed rats. These changes were partially restored in the NAC- and LA-treated groups. There was a negative correlation between AI and TAC (r = -0.969, P < 0.05). In addition, a significant positive correlation between LPL activity and TAC was found (r = 0.979, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative injury and lipid abnormalities were induced by an HFD. Administration of LA and NAC can improve the antioxidant capacity and activity of LPL and reduce blood lipid significantly. Antioxidant capacity is correlated with AI and LPL activity.
Yang
RuiLi
R
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Security, Ministry of Education, Southern Yangtze University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Le
Guowei
G
Li
Anlin
A
Zheng
Jianliang
J
Shi
Yonghui
Y
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase; D000111:Acetylcysteine