Assessment of the effect of lipoic acid administration on hemostatic and lipid parameters in ovariectomized rats

ABSTRACT

Adverse thrombotic cardiovascular events increase in women coincident with the onset of menopause. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of lipoic acid administration on hemostatic and lipid parameters, pertinent to thrombotic cardiovascular tendency in ovariectomized rats. Mature female rats were allocated into three groups namely; sham-operated, ovariectomized and lipoic acid-treated ovariectomized rats. Lipoic acid administration started 8 weeks after ovariectomy, and lasted for 3 weeks, in a dose of 100mg/kg body weight, on daily basis. All ovariectomized rats, whether treated or not, were sacrificed 11 weeks after ovariectomy. Various hemostatic and lipid parameters were evaluated, in addition to body mass index, body fat weight as well as malondialdehyde level and red blood cell profile. Compared with their non-treated ovariectomized littermates, lipoic acid-treated ovariectomized rats showed increased platelet count and decreased platelet aggregation, together with reduced fibrinogen level, body mass index and fat weight to body weight ratio, as well as the malondialdehyde level. Lipoic acid also ameliorated the increment in triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and atherogenic index detected in the ovariectomized group. Lipoic acid treatment also caused reduction in red blood cell count, hemoglobin level and hematocrit value. The encountered data showed that the administration of lipoic acid may have favorable effects on females after menopause by mitigating some hemostatic and lipid parameters, together with control of body weight and body fat weight. The present findings indicate potential antiobesity, antiplatelet aggregation, antilipedemic and antiatherosclerotic effects of lipoic acid