Pera orange (Citrus sinensis) and Moro orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) juices attenuate left ventricular dysfunction and oxidative stress and improve myocardial energy metabolism in acute doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Doxorubicin is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent for treating several types of cancer; however, it can induce cardiotoxicity. We evaluated the influence of Pera and Moro orange juices on cardiac remodeling induced by acute administration of doxorubicin in rats. METHODS: We allocated 120 male Wistar rats into six groups: control (C), Pera orange juice (PO), Moro orange juice (MO), doxorubicin (D), doxorubicin + Pera orange juice (DPO), and doxorubicin + Moro orange juice (DMO). Groups PO and DPO received Pera orange juice, MO and DMO received Moro orange juice, and C and D received water with maltodextrin (100 g/L) for 4 wk. Subsequently, groups D, DPO, and DMO received 20 mg/kg doxorubicin and C, PO, and MO received saline. Echocardiogram and euthanasia were performed 48 h after doxorubicin injection. Juice and animal-serum flavonoid identification and quantification were evaluated by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry. Oxidative stress and myocardial metabolism were evaluated by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction increased oxidative stress and pathologic changes in myocardial energy metabolism of rats treated with doxorubicin. Intake of both orange juices improved left ventricular function, decreased oxidative stress, and attenuated the myocardial energy metabolism changes. Moro orange juice had a more pronounced effect than Pera orange juice in glutathione peroxidase activity, citrate synthase, and ß-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity. CONCLUSIONS: Pera and Moro orange juices attenuated cardiac remodeling induced by doxorubicin, improved myocardial energy metabolism, and attenuated oxidative stress. However, Moro orange juice was more effective than Pera orange juice in modifying energy metabolism.

The evident and the hidden factors of vitamin D status in older people during COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, vitamin D is a target of research and speculation. Lockdown or home isolation reduces sunlight exposition and increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Special attention is needed for older people at risk of both severe forms of COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency. This review aims to highlight the association of vitamin D and COVID-19 in two instances, the direct influence of vitamin D on the immune system, and the indirect risks for other vitamin D deficiency-related diseases, such as musculoskeletal properties in older persons. Methods: We performed a narrative review. Results: Whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with COVID-19 poor prognosis, and if vitamin D supplementation may improve the post-infection outcomes is still unclear. In any case, the pandemic generates indirect burden, such as the sequence: home isolation, low sunlight exposition, vitamin D deficiency, and fragility fractures. Conclusion: Therefore, it is time to debate how to optimize vitamin D status in older people, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of the length of vitamin D deficiency on cardiac remodeling.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to evaluate the influence of vitamin D (VD) deficiency on cardiac metabolism, morphology, and function. Thus, we investigated the relationship of these changes with the length of the nutrient restriction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male weanling Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups: C2 (n=24), animals were fed an AIN-93G diet with 1000 IU VD/kg of chow and were kept under fluorescent light for 2 months; D2 (n=22), animals were fed a VD-deficient AIN-93G diet and were kept under incandescent light for 2 months; C4 (n=21) animals were kept in the same conditions of C2 for 4 months; and D4 (n=23) animals were kept in the same conditions of D2 for 4 months. Biochemical analyses showed lower ß-hydroxyacyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase activity and higher lactate dehydrogenase activity in VD-deficient animals. Furthermore, VD deficiency was related to increased cytokines release, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis. Echocardiographic data showed left ventricular hypertrophy and lower fractional shortening and ejection fraction in VD-deficient animals. Difference became evident in the lactate dehydrogenase activity, left ventricular weight, right ventricle weight, and left ventricular mass after 4 months of VD deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that VD deficiency is associated with energetic metabolic changes, cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis and apoptosis, cardiac hypertrophy, left chambers alterations, and systolic dysfunction. Furthermore, length of the restriction influenced these cardiac changes.