Influences of alpha-tocopherol on cholesterol metabolism and fatty streak development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed an atherogenic diet

Although the role of oxidized lipoproteins is well known in atherogenesis, the role of vitamin E supplementation is still controversial. There is also little information about cholesterol metabolism (hepatic concentration and fecal excretion) in the new models of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of moderate vitamin E supplementation on cholesterol metabolism and atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E (apo E)-deficient mice. Apo E-deficient mice were fed an atherogenic diet containing 40 or 400 mg/kg of alpha-tocopherol acetate for 6 weeks. Total cholesterol in serum and liver and 3-OH-alpha-sterols in feces, and fecal excretion of bile acids were determined and histological analyses of aortic lesion were performed. A vitamin E-rich diet did not affect body weight, food intake or serum cholesterol. Serum and hepatic concentrations of cholesterol as well as sterol concentration in feces were similar in both groups. However, when compared to controls, the alpha-tocopherol-treated mice showed a reduction of about 60 percent in the atherosclerotic lesions when both the sum of lesion areas and the average of the largest lesion area were considered. These results demonstrate that supplementation of moderate doses of alpha-tocopherol was able to slow atherogenesis in apo E-deficient mice and to reduce atherogenic lipoproteins without modifying the hepatic pool or fecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acids

Influences of alpha-tocopherol on cholesterol metabolism and fatty streak development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed an atherogenic diet.

Although the role of oxidized lipoproteins is well known in atherogenesis, the role of vitamin E supplementation is still controversial. There is also little information about cholesterol metabolism (hepatic concentration and fecal excretion) in the new models of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of moderate vitamin E supplementation on cholesterol metabolism and atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E (apo E)-deficient mice. Apo E-deficient mice were fed an atherogenic diet containing 40 or 400 mg/kg of alpha-tocopherol acetate for 6 weeks. Total cholesterol in serum and liver and 3-OH-alpha-sterols in feces, and fecal excretion of bile acids were determined and histological analyses of aortic lesion were performed. A vitamin E-rich diet did not affect body weight, food intake or serum cholesterol. Serum and hepatic concentrations of cholesterol as well as sterol concentration in feces were similar in both groups. However, when compared to controls, the alpha-tocopherol-treated mice showed a reduction of about 60% in the atherosclerotic lesions when both the sum of lesion areas and the average of the largest lesion area were considered. These results demonstrate that supplementation of moderate doses of alpha-tocopherol was able to slow atherogenesis in apo E-deficient mice and to reduce atherogenic lipoproteins without modifying the hepatic pool or fecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acids.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) infusion has a modest and transitory effect on hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is consumed extensively in Brazil. It has been believed that infusion of a powdered preparation of the fruit may reduce serum cholesterol. However, there are few documented reports on its effects on cholesterol metabolism and its possible hypocholesterolemic effect has not been proved by well-controlled studies. The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of S. melongena on the serum cholesterol and triglycerides of 38 hypercholesterolemic human volunteers ingesting S. melongena infusion for five weeks. Thirty-eight hypercholesterolemic subjects receiving either S. melongena infusion (N = 19) or placebo (N = 19) participated in two clinical experiments in which the effect of S. melongena infusion was studied with (N = 16) or without (N = 38) dietary orientation. Total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins A and B were measured in blood at the beginning of the experiment and three and five weeks thereafter. No differences were observed compared to control. Intraindividual analysis showed that S. melongena infusion significantly reduced the blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol and of apolipoprotein B. After dietary orientation, no intra- or intergroup differences were seen for any of the parameters analyzed. The results suggest that S. melongena infusion had a modest and transitory effect, which was not different from that obtained with standard orientation for dyslipidemia patients (diet and physical activities).

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) infusion has a modest and transitory effect on hypercholesterolemic subjects

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is consumed extensively in Brazil. It has been believed that infusion of a powdered preparation of the fruit may reduce serum cholesterol. However, there are few documented reports on its effects on cholesterol metabolism and its possible hypocholesterolemic effect has not been proved by well-controlled studies. The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of S. melongena on the serum cholesterol and triglycerides of 38 hypercholesterolemic human volunteers ingesting S. melongena infusion for five weeks. Thirty-eight hypercholesterolemic subjects receiving either S. melongena infusion (N = 19) or placebo (N = 19) participated in two clinical experiments in which the effect of S. melongena infusion was studied with (N = 16) or without (N = 38) dietary orientation. Total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins A and B were measured in blood at the beginning of the experiment and three and five weeks thereafter. No differences were observed compared to control. Intraindividual analysis showed that S. melongena infusion significantly reduced the blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol and of apolipoprotein B. After dietary orientation, no intra- or intergroup differences were seen for any of the parameters analyzed. The results suggest that S. melongena infusion had a modest and transitory effect, which was not different from that obtained with standard orientation for dyslipidemia patients (diet and physi

Composiçäo de ácidos graxos da gordura na carcaça de frangos de corte sob dietas com diferentes fontes de energia / Carcass fatty acid composition of broiler fed different sources of energy

Avaliaram-se os níveis de energia metabolizável normalmente utilizados nas raçöes de frangos de corte, obtidos pela inclusäo de óleos vegetais (soja, canola e palma) e seus efeitos sobre o perfil de ácidos graxos da pele e dos músculos da coxa e do peito, levando-se em consideraçäo a linhagem e o sexo. Foram utilizados 2400 pintos de um dia, machos e fêmeas, das linhagens comerciais Hubbard e Avian Farms. As aves receberam raçäo inicial e final com níveis de energia metabolízavel de 3050 e 3150kcal/kg, respectivamente, obtidos pela inclusäo dos óleos vegetais, fornecedores de ácidos graxos, inclusive "w-3". Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em um arranjo fatorial com 16 tratamentos (4 raçöes x 2 sexos x 2 linhagens) com duas repetiçöes cada. Diferenças entre médias foram testadas pela dms. Näo houve efeito significativo da inclusäo de óleos na raçäo sobre o perfil de ácidos graxos na carcaça. O mesmo ocorreu quanto ao efeito de sexo e de linhagem

Oral administration of short-chain fatty acids reduces the intestinal mucositis caused by treatment with Ara-C in mice fed commercial or elemental diets.

Swiss mice fed commercial or elemental diets and an oral short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) solution or saline were treated with the cytostatic drug Ara-C (cytarabine, 3.6 mg/mouse/day) for two or four days. Histopathological examination revealed less damage (atrophy, inflammation, or necrosis) to the small intestine and colon caused by Ara-C when SCFA was administered. Accordingly, protein and nucleotide concentrations in the intestinal mucosa were higher in the group receiving SCFA than in the group receiving a placebo of the same pH and osmolarity. Improvement by SCFA treatment was correlated with an increase in the height of the intestinal villi, with no alterations of the crypts. Furthermore, the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes was similar to normal values in animals receiving SCFA and Ara-C. When large doses of SCFA were administered, xanthomized enterocytes appeared, suggesting an accumulation of fatty acids in these cells. We conclude that oral administration of SCFA at close to physiological proportions reduces the inflammation and necrosis caused by Ara-C administration, thus representing a potential factor for the improvement of patients with mucositis caused by cancer treatment.

A method for steam-sterilizing semi-solid diets for germ-free mice research.

A semi-solid corn-meal diet sterilized in glass flasks in a hospital-type autoclave is described. The values of weight gain, feed efficiency, apparent digestibility, and cecal diameters were the same for germ-free mice fed either on this diet or on a soybean meal and alfalfa diet (L-485), widely used in germ-free research. The corn-meal diet has been successfully used for eight years.

A method for steam-sterilizing semi-solid diets for germ-free mice research

Se describe una ración de maíz semisólida, esterilizada en frascos de vidrio, utilizando un autoclave de tipo hospitalario. Los valores de ganancia de peso, eficacia alimentaria, digestibilidad aparente y diámetro del intestino ciego fueron los mismos para ratones libres de gérmenes, alimentados con esta ración, e con la ración de soya e alfalfa (L-485), ampliamente usada en gnotobiología. La ración de maíz ha sido utilizada con éxito durante un período de ocho años

Hatchery waste: nutritional evaluation of non-hatched eggs.

Hen's non-hatched eggs were processed by boiling for 30 minutes, milling in a meat grinder, and drying at 60 degrees C with continuous ventilation. The product contained 36% of protein, 27% of ether extract, 17% of ash, 10% of calcium, and 0.6% of phosphorus. The quality of the protein was comparable to that of a reference casein and of fresh egg meal, as determined by protein efficiency ratio and apparent net protein utilization.