title: Cardioprotective effect of virgin coconut oil in heated palm oil diet-induced hypertensive rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virgin coconut oil (VCO) contains high antioxidant activity which may have protective effects on the heart in hypertensive rats.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study investigated the effects of VCO on blood pressure and cardiac tissue by measuring angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and its histomorphometry in rats fed with a heated palm oil (HPO) diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: (i) control, (ii) orally given VCO (1.42 ml/kg), (iii) fed with a HPO (15%) diet, and (iv) fed with a HPO diet and supplemented with VCO (1.42 ml/kg, po) (HPO+VCO) for 16 weeks. Blood pressure was measured monthly. After 16 weeks, rat hearts were dissected for lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and ACE activity measurement and histomorphometric study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in the HPO group compared with the control starting at week eight (112.91 ± 1.32 versus 98.08 ± 3.61 mmHg, p < 0.05) which was prevented by VCO supplementation (91.73 ± 3.42 mmHg). The consumption of HPO increased TBARS and ACE activity in heart, which were inhibited by VCO supplementation. The increases in the myofiber width and area as well as nuclear size reduction in the HPO group were significantly prevented by VCO supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that VCO supplementation possesses a cardioprotective effect by preventing the increase in blood pressure via an antioxidant mechanism and remodeling in rats fed repeatedly with a HPO diet.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia .
authors: Yusof
authors: Y
authors: Kamisah
authors: Vengadesh
authors: V
authors: Periyah
authors: Kee Tat
authors: KT
authors: Lee
authors: Norrashid
authors: N
authors: Noor-Izwan
authors: Amran
authors: A
authors: Nurul-Hamizah
authors: Badlishah Sham
authors: BS
authors: Nurul-Iman
authors: Kogilavani
authors: K
authors: Subermaniam
authors: Kamsiah
authors: K
authors: Jaarin
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Azman
authors: Othman
authors: O
authors: Faizah
authors: Hj Mohd Saad
authors: HM
authors: Qodriyah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000073878:Palm Oil; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D010938:Plant Oils; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D000073878:Palm Oil; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D000074263:Coconut Oil
keywords: Angiotensin-converting enzyme; heart; hypertension; myofiber area; myofiber width; oxidative stress