Quercetin intake with exercise modulates lipoprotein metabolism and reduces atherosclerosis plaque formation

Abstract

Study objectivesWe proposed that mice supplemented with quercetin, a class of flavonoids known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, will have profound effects on the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis when combined with exercise.Study designForty C57BL6 LDLr −/− mice were divided into four groups (n = 10): control untreated (NN); control group supplemented with 100 μg/day of quercetin (NQ); exercise group (EN); and exercise group supplemented with 100 μg/day of quercetin (EQ). All animals were fed atherogenic diet. The exercise groups were run on a treadmill for 30 minutes, 15 m/min for 5 days/week for 30 days. After 30 day animals were sacrificed and tissues were harvested.Results and conclusionMice supplemented with quercetin during exercise sessions had 78% atherosclerotic plaque reduction compared to control mice and 40% less atherosclerotic plaque formation compared to control group supplemented with quercetin. The manifestation of the combination of quercetin supplementation with exercise was more evident in the pro-reverse cholesterol transport genes, indicating a plausible mechanism for their combined beneficial effect.The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the major cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), is multifactorial and therefore its treatment approaches and the ability to regress the plaque are complicated. Data from research on animal models and clinical studies have indicated that moderate daily exercise can alleviate the risk for the development of atherosclerotic plaques, while the same has not been true for the supplementation of antioxidants.

Silver fir (Abies alba) trunk extract protects guinea pig arteries from impaired functional responses and morphology due to an atherogenic diet

“…In mice, quercetin inhibited monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, a critical contributor to the initiation and development of atherosclerotic lesions that directly promotes the migration of inflammatory cells to the vascular wall. Quercetin also decreased plasma levels of interleukin 17, which acts as a potent mediator by increasing chemokine production in various tissues to recruit monocytes and neutrophils to the site of inflammation (Garelnabi et al 2014). In ovariectomized guinea-pigs, polyphenolrich grape intake altered hepatic cholesterol metabolism by lowering plasma triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol (Zern et al 2003).…”

Effects of exercise on reverse cholesterol transport: A systemized narrative review of animal studies

“…In addition, their control and maintenance is convenient for researchers.Intensity is most commonly reported as meters/minutes in which the authors have categorised as low intensity ( ≤18 meters/minutes), moderate intensity (19 -28 meters/minutes) and high intensity (more than ≥ 29 meters/minutes). The findings reagrding low-intensity exercise are mixed, with some studies showing no significant effects on RCTr [37,53]. However, some showed significant effects on RCTr elements in responses to low-intensity exercise [43, 58,67].…”

Exercise-Induced Regulation of Redox Status in Cardiovascular Diseases: The Role of Exercise Training and Detraining

“…[145] reported that following 6 weeks of treadmill training, vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques were stabilized via the modulation of inflammatory pathways and matrix metalloproteinases in diabetic apoE −/− mice. Moreover, 4 weeks of treadmill training in low lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLr −/− ) mice resulted in reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation that was attributed to modulation of lipid metabolism, possibly by stimulating cholesterol reverse transport lipoprotein genes and through a set of anti-inflammatory cytokine genes [149]. These results are in agreement with a previous study, reporting that swimming training for 8 weeks reduced atherosclerosis by providing increased antioxidant protection via the vascular NO system, in apolipoprotein E deficient mice [146].…”