ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the potential effects of pumpkin seeds protein on blood pressure (BP), plasma adiponectin, leptin levels, and oxidative stress in rats with fructose-induced metabolic syndrome. Twenty four male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups and fed a 20% casein diet, 20% casein diet supplemented with pumpkin protein, 20% casein diet with 64% D-fructose, or 20% casein diet with pumpkin protein and 64% D-fructose for 8 weeks. Contin-uous fructose feeding induced an increase in plasma insulin/glucose ratio, BP, insulin and glucose, aspartate aminotrans-ferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels, and a decrease in the liver and muscle glycogen stores. In addition, elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and leptin and lowered adiponectin levels were observed in rats fed a fructose-enriched diet. These groups also exhibited lower plasma levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione, higher thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydroperoxide, carbonyl, and nitric oxide in both the liver and kidneys than rats fed the control diet. Interestingly, pumpkin seed protein treatment significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving glucose, insulin, BP, TG, TC, ALT, and ALP levels, increasing liver and muscle glycogen stores, adiponectin level, and adiponectin/leptin ratio, and reducing plasma leptin lev-els. In addition, rats fed pumpkin protein with a high-fructose diet improved oxidative stress in the liver and kidneys. In conclusion, proteins from Cucurbita pepo L. seeds effectively improve metabolic parameters and protect against oxidative stress induced by a high-fructose diet.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Obesity is associated with increased occurrence of numerous diseases, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Blood pressure (BP), dyslipidemia, and inflammation markers and their relationships with body mass index (BMI) were determined in scholar adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adolescents (n = 210) (sex ratio G/B = 106/104; 11 to 16 years) were recruited in three colleges of Oran city. Anthropometric parameters were measured to classify adolescents as thin (T), normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), or obese (O). Waist circumference (WC) and BP were measured, and serum glucose, uric acid, urea, lipid parameters, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were analyzed. RESULTS: Adolescents were classified according to their BMI as T (15%), NW (63%), OW (13%), and O (9%). Compared to NW, increased values of WC, BP (p < 0.001), and glucose (p < 0.01) were noted in OW and O groups. Total cholesterol (TC) level was elevated in O adolescents (p < 0.01). Increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in OW (p < 0.05) and O (p < 0.01), and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were noted in both OW and O groups (p < 0.05), compared to NW. Elevated triglyceride (TG) values and TG : HDL-C ratio were observed in OW (p < 0.05) and O (p < 0.01). High values of uric acid were noted in OW and O adolescents (p < 0.01). Compared to NW, there was no significant difference in IL-1ß whereas IL-6 was elevated in T (p < 0.05), OW (p < 0.01) and O (p < 0.001). Leptin, TNF-α, and CRP concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.001), whereas adiponectin values were decreased in both OW and O groups (p < 0.01), compared to NW. CONCLUSIONS: Significant associations were noted between WC, BP, dyslipidemia, inflammation markers, and BMI, indicating that both OW and O adolescents have a tendency to present metabolic syndrome risk factors.
