Grape extract and α-Tocopherol effect in cardiovascular disease model of Apo E -/- Mice

• Main Author: Peluzio,Maria do Carmo Gouveia
• Publication Date: 2011
• Other Authors: Teixeira,Tatiana Fiche Salles, Oliveira,Vanessa Patrocínio, Sabarense,Céphora Maria, Dias,Cristina Maria Ganz Chaves, Abranches,Monise Viana, Maldonado,Izabel Regina dos Santos Costa
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira (Online)
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-86502011000400002
• topic: Cholesterol, LDL; Vitis; alpha-Tocopherol; Diet, Atherogenic; Mice

PURPOSE: To verify the effect of consumption of grape extract isolated or combined with α-tocopherol supplementation on atherosclerosis model with Apo E -/- mice. METHODS: After six weeks of atherogenic diet, Apo E -/- mice were divided into the following groups: Control, Grape, Tocopherol and Grape plus Tocopherol. The treatment progressed for 11 weeks when animals were submitted to euthanasia. RESULTS: All the treatments presented hypocholesterolemic effect with reduction of serum and liver cholesterol levels. This effect was parallel to an increase in the fecal excretion of cholesterol. There was also a higher fecal excretion of saturated fatty acids in groups receiving grape extract or α-tocopherol. All the groups treated presented a tendency to show higher levels of vitamin E. The fatty acid profile showed a tendency for monounsaturated fatty acid preservation after grape extract and α-tocopherol consumption. Morphological analysis revealed a lower degree of evolution of the atherosclerotic plaque of the animals that were fed α-tocopherol combined with grape extract, even when no difference was found in the size of the largest lesion. CONCLUSION: A synergistic effect between the polyphenols and α-tocopherol was observed, resulting in diminished evolution of atherosclerosis and a greater beneficial effect on atherosclerosis than the isolated consumption of antioxidants.