title: Effect of a high dose of vitamin D on a rabbit model of atherosclerosis.
abstract: Multifactorial factors have been involved in atherosclerosis. An association has been shown between osteoporosis and carotid atherosclerosis. This work evaluates the effect of vitamin D on regression of atherosclerosis. Forty-eight male rabbits were divided into: Group Ia: [Standard diet + saline for 4 weeks]; Group I b: [Standard diet + a high dose of vitamin D3 daily for 4 weeks]; Group IIa: [Cholesterolenriched diet for 4 weeks]; Group IIb: [Cholesterolenriched diet + a single high dose of vit D3, daily for 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, the rabbits were sacrificed for assay in serum lipid profile, C reactive protein (CRP), vitamin D3 metabolite, calcium, soluble adhesion molecules (sVCAM and sICAM) and nitrite (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) released from isolated aortic rings. Results showed that vitamin D produced a significant reduction in the sera of lipid profile, CRP, and adhesion molecules, associated with a non-significant change in serum calcium and a significant increase in the body level of vitamin D3. Addition of vitamin D to the incubated aortic rings of the atherosclerotic rabbits resulted in a significant increase in NO and decrease in MDA release. It could be concluded that vitamin D has anti-atherosclerotic effects, and may exert these effects by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and stimulation of nitric oxide, resulting in attenuation of the inflammatory atherosclerotic process.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Department, Mansoura University, Egypt.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Malek
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Department, Mansoura University, Egypt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008055:Lipids; D009573:Nitrites; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002118:Calcium