Oral taurine supplementation prevents fructose-induced hypertension in rats

Taurine is known to have antihypertensive and lipid-lowering effects in some experimental models and patients. On the other hand, intracellular free calcium and magnesium play important roles in regulating the tonus of blood vessels and insulin sensitivity. We examined the effect of oral taurine sup...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heart and vessels 2004-05, Vol.19 (3), p.132-136
Main Authors: Harada, Hisashi, Tsujino, Takeshi, Watari, Yasuhiro, Nonaka, Hidemi, Emoto, Noriaki, Yokoyama, Mitsuhiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blood Pressure - drug effects
Calcium - blood
Fructose
Hypertension
Hypertension - prevention & control
Male
Prevention
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Rodents
Sugar
Taurine - pharmacology
Taurine - therapeutic use
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Taurine is known to have antihypertensive and lipid-lowering effects in some experimental models and patients. On the other hand, intracellular free calcium and magnesium play important roles in regulating the tonus of blood vessels and insulin sensitivity. We examined the effect of oral taurine supplementation on blood pressure, serum metabolic parameters, and platelet cytosolic free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) and magnesium ([Mg(2+)](i)) concentration in fructose-fed Sprague-Dawley rats. Systolic blood pressure and platelet [Ca(2+)](i) were significantly higher in rats fed a 60% fructose diet. Oral taurine supplementation (1% in drinking water) completely prevented the elevation of blood pressure and an increase in platelet [Ca(2+)](i), but exacerbated hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and a decrease in platelet [Mg(2+)](i). In conclusion, taurine may ameliorate fructose-induced hypertension in rats by preventing an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration. The blood pressure-lowering effect of taurine appeared to be independent from its effect on glucose and lipid metabolism in this model.
ISSN:0910-8327
1615-2573
DOI:10.1007/s00380-003-0757-1