title: Cocoa-enriched diet enhances antioxidant enzyme activity and modulates lymphocyte composition in thymus from young rats.
abstract: Cocoa is a rich source of flavonoids, mainly (-)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, and procyanidins. This article reports the effect of continuous cocoa intake on antioxidant capacity in plasma and tissues, including lymphoid organs and liver, from young rats. Weaned Wistar rats received natural cocoa (4% or 10% food intake) for three weeks, corresponding to their infancy. Flavonoid absorption was confirmed through the quantification of epicatechin metabolites in urine. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, were examined. Cocoa intake enhanced TAC in all tissues especially in thymus. Moreover, thymus SOD and catalase activities were also dose-dependently increased by cocoa. It was also analyzed whether the enhanced antioxidant system in thymus could influence its cellular composition. An increase in the percentage of thymocytes in advanced development stage was found. In summary, cocoa diet enhances thymus antioxidant defenses and influences thymocyte differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramiro-Puig
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urpí-Sardà
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pérez-Cano
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franch
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellote
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrés-Lacueva
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izquierdo-Pulido
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002392:Catechin / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D059808:Polyphenols; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000201:enzymology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004798:Enzymes; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D002392:Catechin; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase