Comparison of purple carrot juice and β-carotene in a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rat model of the metabolic syndrome.
Anthocyanins, phenolic acids and carotenoids are the predominant phytochemicals present in purple carrots. These phytochemicals could be useful in treatment of the metabolic syndrome since anthocyanins improve dyslipidaemia, glucose tolerance, hypertension and insulin resistance; the phenolic acids may also protect against CVD and β-carotene may protect against oxidative processes. In the present study, we have compared the ability of purple carrot juice and β-carotene to reverse the structural and functional changes in rats fed a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet as a model of the metabolic syndrome induced by diet. Cardiac structure and function were defined by histology, echocardiography and in isolated hearts and blood vessels; liver structure and function, oxidative stress and inflammation were defined by histology and plasma markers. High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats developed hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, increased cardiac stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, impaired glucose tolerance, increased abdominal fat deposition, altered plasma lipid profile, liver fibrosis and increased plasma liver enzymes together with increased plasma markers of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as increased inflammatory cell infiltration. Purple carrot juice attenuated or reversed all changes while β-carotene did not reduce oxidative stress, cardiac stiffness or hepatic fat deposition. As the juice itself contained low concentrations of carotenoids, it is likely that the anthocyanins are responsible for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of purple carrot juice to improve glucose tolerance as well as cardiovascular and hepatic structure and function.
Poudyal
Hemant
H
School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
Panchal
Sunil
S
Brown
Lindsay
L
D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000737:chemistry*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000872:Anthocyanins; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019207:beta Carotene