Telmisartan is More Effective than Taurine in Protecting High Fat Diet Induced Obesity in Rats from Hypertension, Some Metabolic, Oxidative Stress and Vascular Complications

Abstract

Obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and fatty liver, are key risk factors for vascular complications. So, this study aimed to compare between telmisartan and taurine supplementation on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in addition to some metabolic disturbances and some vascular complications in an animal model for obesity. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=10) for 8 weeks three groups of them received standard diet with either vehicle or taurine (3% w/v in drinking water) or telmisartan (5 mg/kg, oral) while the other three groups received high fat diet with either vehicle or taurine or telmisartan. Results: The high fat diet group had greater body weight and higher SBP as compared to control rats. Increased plasma glucose, lipid profile (except HDL), insulin, insulin resistance, MDA, and ADMA but decreased HDL, PON-1 and DDAH were also observed. Telmisartan or taurine administration resulted in decreased SBP, plasma glucose, lipid profile, insulin, insulin resistance, MDA, and ADMA but increased both plasma HDL level and PON-1activity, in addition to kidney DDAH enzyme activity with more significant effect of telmisartan than taurine. Taken together, these results support the more beneficial effect of telmisartan than taurine in obese rats by improving SBP, in addition to ameliorating hyperglycemia , dyslipidemia,(metabolic disturbances) and decreasing plasma ADMA but increasing kidney DDAH enzyme activities (vascular complications) at least in part, by improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing oxidative stress, suggesting the possible use of telmisartan as a protective strategy against vascular complications related to obesity.