title: The effect of L-arginine and ascorbic acid on the visceral fat and the concentrations of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in high-fat-diet rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  L-arginine (L-arg) and vitamin C supplementation may decrease fat accumulation and have a favourable effect on carbohydrate metabolism. This is partly caused by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are involved in adipocyte development and remodelling. Our study evaluated the effects of L-arg and vitamin C supplementation on the content of visceral fat (VF%), activity of MMPs, and insulin resistance (IR) in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment was performed using 48 Wistar rats divided into four groups: Group 1 was fed a standard diet, Group 2 a HFD, Group 3 a HFD supplemented with L-arg (A), and Group 4 a HFD supplemented with L-arg and vitamin C (AC). The animals were euthanized after six weeks. The concentrations of serum glucose, insulin, MMP-2, and MMP-9, as well as IR by Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) and VF% were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant increases in VF%, MMP-2, MMP-9, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels were observed in the HFD group when compared to the control group. A smaller increase in VF%, insulin, and HOMA-IR was seen in Group 3 (A) and 4 (AC). L-arg supplementation protected against increases in MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Group 3 (A) and 4 (AC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-arginine could protect from an increase in visceral fat through a change in the activity of MMPs and amelioration of insulin sensitivity in rats fed a HFD. The addition of vitamin C did not improve the effects of L-arginine supplementation.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kujawska-Łuczak
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suliburska
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Markuszewski
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pupek-Musialik
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabłecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders, and Hypertension, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland. pawelbogdanski@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bogdański
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: L-arginin; high-fat diet; metaloproteinases; rats; visceral fat