Supplementation with okra combined or not with exercise training is able to protect the heart of animals with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clinical manifestation strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, the main cause of death worldwide. In view of this scenario, many therapeutic proposals have appeared in order to optimize the treatment of individuals with MetS, including the practice of exercise training (ET) and the consumption of okra (O). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of O consumption and/or ET in animals with MetS. In all, 32 male Zucker rats (fa/fa) at 10 weeks old were randomly distributed into four groups of 8 animals each: MetS, MetS+O, MetS+ET and MetS+ET+O, and 8 lean Zucker rats (fa/ +) comprised the control group. Okra was administered by orogastric gavage 2x/day (morning and night, 100 mg/kg), 5 days/week, for 6 weeks. The ET was performed on a treadmill 1x/day (afternoon), 5 days/week, 60 min/day, in an intensity of 70% of maximal capacity, for the same days of O treatment. It was found that, O consumption alone was able to promote improved insulin sensitivity (MetS 93.93 ± 8.54 mg/dL vs. MetS+O 69.95 ± 18.7 mg/dL, p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.65, CI = 50.32 −89.58, triglyceride reduction (MetS 492.9 ± 97.8 mg/dL vs. MetS+O 334.9 ± 98.0 mg/dL, p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.61, CI = 193.2–398.7). In addition, it promoted a reduction in systolic blood pressure (MetS 149.0 ± 9.3 mmHg vs. MetS+O 132.0 ± 11.4 mmHg, p ≤ 0.05, d = 1.63, CI = 120–140), prevented an increase in cardiac collagen (MetS 12.60 ± 2.08% vs. MetS+O 7.52 ± 0.77%, p ≤ 0.05, d = 3.24, CI = 6.56–8.49). When associated with ET, the results were similar. Thus, we conclude that O consumption combined or not with aerobic ET can have a protective effect on the cardiac tissue of rats with MetS.

Effects of Abelmoschus Esculentus Infused Water on Blood Glucose Levels of Rattus Norvegicus in Hyperglycemia Conditions

“…Okra can function as a dietary therapy for hyperglycemia, especially in terms of maintaining a relatively ideal body weight (Erfani Majd et al, 2018;Gomes et al, 2023). Okra can be consumed fresh, processed by boiling, or fried, dried, but not made into flour (Adelakun & Oyelade, 2011;Gomes et al, 2023;Lea, 2013;Nnamezie et al, 2021;Ofori et al, 2020).…”

“…Okra can function as a dietary therapy for hyperglycemia, especially in terms of maintaining a relatively ideal body weight (Erfani Majd et al, 2018;Gomes et al, 2023). Okra can be consumed fresh, processed by boiling, or fried, dried, but not made into flour (Adelakun & Oyelade, 2011;Gomes et al, 2023;Lea, 2013;Nnamezie et al, 2021;Ofori et al, 2020). This is based on the results of research by Astati and Kasmawati (2017) which showed that there was no effect of giving okra flour on body weight in diabetic Wistar rats between the control group and the treatment group.…”