Vitamin E slows the progression of hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress in heart, liver and kidney

Abstract

Vitamin E suppresses the hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress in the heart. The objectives were to investigate if: (a) hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress is similar in heart, liver, and kidney, and is dependent upon duration of hypercholesterolemia; and (b) vitamin E slows the progression of oxidative stress in these organs. The rabbits were assigned to 4 groups: I, regular diet (2 months); II, 0.25 % cholesterol diet (2 months); III, 0.25 % cholesterol diet (4 months); and IV, 0.25 % cholesterol diet (2 months) followed by 0.25 % cholesterol diet plus vitamin E (2 months). Blood samples were collected before and at the end of protocol for the measurement of total cholesterol (TC). Hearts, livers, and kidneys were removed at the end of the protocol under anesthesia for the measurement of oxidative parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), and chemiluminescence (CL). The basal MDA levels in the heart, liver, and kidney of rabbits in Group I were similar, but increased to 14.65-, 3.18-, and 10.35-fold, respectively, with hypercholesterolemia. The increases in MDA levels were dependent upon the duration of hypercholesterolemia. Vitamin E did not alter the TC levels, but reduced the MDA levels in all organs. Hypercholesterolemia and vitamin E had variable effects on CL activity. In conclusion, (i) hypercholesterolemia induces oxidative stress in heart, liver, and kidney, the heart being the most and the liver the least susceptible to oxidative stress; (ii) oxidative stress is positively associated with duration of hypercholesterolemia; and (iii) vitamin E slows the progression of oxidative stress in these organs.

Dietary cholesterol increases ventricular volume and narrows cerebrovascular diameter in a rabbit model of Alzheimer’s disease

“…Taken together, these findings extend our initial observations (Deci et al, 2012; Lemieux et al, 2010), recapitulate changes seen in Alzheimer’s Disease, and add to the other indices of Alzheimer’s Disease that we and others have found in the cholesterol-fed rabbit (Jiang et al, 2012; Lemieux et al, 2010; Prasanthi et al, 2010; Prasanthi et al, 2008; Woodruff-Pak, 2008; Zheng et al, 2009). As a result, the cholesterol-fed rabbit is becoming an important model for assessing mechanisms of and treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease (Chen et al, 2008; Coico and Woodruff-Pak, 2008; Jiang et al, 2012; Prasad et al, 2012; Prasanthi et al, 2010; Rojas et al, 2010; Woodruff-Pak, 2008). Elevated cholesterol causes a number of changes in brain including ventricular enlargement, blood vessel narrowing, and the deposition of beta amyloid.…”

Vitamin E, Turmeric and Saffron in Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…It has been found that vitamin E reduces cholesterol-related oxidation in the heart, liver and kidneys [81]. To determine the relationship between high cholesterol-induced oxidation and vitamin E supplements in the heart, liver and kidney, researchers gave high cholesterol with and without vitamin E supplement and regular diet, over two-month and four-month periods to four different groups of rabbits.…”

“…As for CL, researchers found that vitamin E helped to keep antioxidant reserve at control levels in the heart and increased the antioxidant reserve in the liver. Researchers concluded that vitamin E slows the progression of oxidative stress [81]. …”

Cholesterol and Copper Affect Learning and Memory in the Rabbit

“…There is also a growing awareness of the effects of inflammation on cognitive decline [141–144]. Similarly, there are a significant number of peripheral effects of cholesterol in the rabbit that may have effects on learning and memory including atherosclerosis [145–147], inflammation [5, 133, 148, 149], oxidative stress [150–152], and copper [153–155]. With the compromise of the rabbit's blood brain barrier that occurs with cholesterol feeding [5, 58, 156–158], these peripheral effects may very well also become central effects.…”