Cardioprotective action of chia ( L.) in ovariectomized rats fed a high fat diet

• Published in: Food & function 2021-04, Vol.12 (7), p.369-382
• Main Authors: Mishima, Marcella Duarte Villas, Ladeira, Luiz Carlos Maia, da Silva, Bárbara Pereira, Toledo, Renata Celi Lopes, de Oliveira, Thomás Valente, Costa, Neuza Maria Brunoro, Martino, Hércia Stampini Duarte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Animals; Antioxidants; Biometrics; Body weight gain; Cardiology; cardioprotective effects; Cardiovascular diseases; Catalase; Diet; Dietary minerals; Enzymes; Estrogens; Health risks; Heart; High fat diet; Hypertrophy; Life sciences; Magnesium; Manganese; Minerals; Na+/K+-exchanging ATPase; Nitric oxide; nutrition; Oophorectomy; Ovariectomy; Oxidative stress; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Salvia columbariae; Salvia hispanica; Sciences du vivant; Superoxide dismutase; Surgery; Zinc
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/d0fo03206a

The reduction in estrogen levels is associated with the increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease development. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of chia consumption in a standard diet (SD) or high fat diet (HFD) on ovariectomized (OVX) and non-ovariectomized (SHAM) rats, in relation to biometric measurements, oxidative stress, mineral content and ATPase enzymes in the heart. The study was conducted with 80 female Wistar rats, which received a SD or HFD for 18 weeks. During the first 7 weeks, the animals received the SD or HFD. Then, 40 rats were ovariectomized and 40 rats were SHAM operated. After recovery from surgery, the animals were allocated to 8 groups ( n = 10) and they received one of the following diets for 8 weeks: SD, SD + chia, HFD and HFD + chia. In the OVX group, HFD increased weight gain, adiposity, cardiac hypertrophy, and nitric oxide (NO) and K concentration and decreased the Na + /K + ATPase activity. In combination with HFD, ovariectomy decreased the catalase activity, Mg, Cu and Zn concentration, total ATPase activity, and Na + /K + ATPase and Mg2 + ATPase activities; this group also presented higher NO, Ca, K, Fe and Mn concentration in the heart. The SHAM group fed chia presented a lower fat content in the heart. In the OVX group fed HFD, chia increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, decreased NO and maintained the content of minerals and ATPase enzymes. Thus, chia improved the biometric parameters of the heart, the antioxidant activity and maintained the content of minerals and ATPase enzymes, showing a cardioprotective action, but without reversing the deleterious effects of ovariectomy. The combination of ovariectomy with high fat diet consumption, in this study, affected biometric parameters, oxidative stress, mineral content and ATPase pump activity, while chia consumption had positive effects on these factors.