Vitamin E dose-dependently reduces aortic fatty lesion formation in orchidectomized aged rats.
OBJECTIVE
Although the cardioprotective effects of supplemental doses of vitamin E have been investigated in several conditions, its role in gonadectomy- induced fatty lesion formation is unclear. The present study was designed to examine the efficacy of vitamin E in a dose-dependent manner on indices of oxidative stress and in preventing the formation of aortic fatty lesions in orchidectomized (Orx) aged rats.


METHODS
Forty 12-month old male Sprague-Dawley rats were either sham-operated (Sham) or Orx and fed a semi-purified control diet for 120 days. Thereafter, rats were assigned to four treatment groups (n=10): Sham and one Orx group received 75 IU vitamin E and served as controls, and the other two Orx groups received either 250 or 500 IU vitamin E per kg diet for 90 days.


RESULTS
Vitamin E at the highest dose (500 IU) was able to lower serum total cholesterol by 16% and significantly increase superoxide dismutase by 9% compared to Orx controls. Similarly, this dose was able to significantly reduce the development of atherosclerotic lesion formation and aortic fatty streak area by 93% compared to Orx controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that dietary vitamin E supplementation in Orx aged rats provide anti-atherogenic effects, in part, due to vitamin E's antioxidative properties. Clinical studies are needed to confirm whether supplemental doses of vitamin E can prevent the development of atherosclerosis in older men particularly with low testosterone level.
Chai
Sheau C
SC
Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
Arjmandi
Bahram H
BH
D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D008055:Lipids; D014810:Vitamin E; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase