RESUMO
Introduction: Lipid metabolism disorder or hyperlipidemia is known as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the increase in serum homocysteine and leptin are associated with atherosclerotic disease. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) on serum homocysteine (Hcy), apolipoproteinA-I (ApoA-I) and B (ApoB), leptin and lipid profile changes in high-cholesterol-diet (HCD) fed rats. Methods: The Healthy Adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly assigned into three experimental groups. Each group consisted of eleven male rats including control group, HCD rats and hypercholesterolemic rats, which were treated with bLF (HCD+bLF). bLF was given by gavage (200 mg/kg/d). After 4 weeks of feeding and overnight fasting, total blood samples were collected. Results: The results showed the elevated level of Hcy, leptin, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ApoB and decrease in ApoA-I in non-treated HCD group compared to the control rats. Administration of bLF significantly ameliorated the Hcy and leptin levels with decrease in LDL-C and total cholesterol in rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet. bLF also tended to increase low serum concentration of ApoA-I and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in HCD rats. Meanwhile, upon bLF-treated rats, there was a significant decrease in ApoB in HCD group. Conclusion: The findings indicated that bLF can improve the alteration of serum Hcy, leptin, apolipproteins and lipid changes in male rats fed with high-cholesterol diet. So, bLF can counteract with HCD elicited hyper-homocysteinemia and hyper-leptinemia, suggesting it to have the useful therapeutic potential in patients with atherosclerosis and lipid disorder.
RESUMO
Introduction: Considering importance of fatty acids in developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and lack of information about saphenous vein which is commonly used as coronary arterial bypass, in this study we investigated differences in fatty acids composition between saphenous vein and aorta tissues in patients with CAD. Methods: Biopsy samples of aortic tissues and saphenous veins as well as blood samples were obtained form 42 patients with CAD. Fatty acids composition of the tissues was determined using gas chromatography and also serum lipid profile was evaluated by commercial kits. Results: Levels of palmitic acid (16:0) were significantly higher in aorta in compared with saphenous (P < 0.001). Also levels of most unsaturated fatty acids (16:1, 18:1n-9, 18:1t, 18:2t, 18:3 n-9 and 22:3n-3) were statistically higher in saphenous tissue than aorta tissue (P < 0.05). Mean levels of linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) was higher in aorta tissue in comparison with saphenous tissue (P = 0.01). We observed positive correlations between serum levels of LDL-C with elaidic acid and linoleic acid levels in saphenous. Evaluation of aorta tissue fatty acids revealed that palmitoleic acid (16:1) had positive and arachidonic and linoleic acids had negative correlations with serum HDL-C levels. Conclusion: Our results revealed difference between fatty acids composition of aorta and saphenous vein tissues and existence of correlations between the fatty acids levels with serum lipid profile. The saphenous vein had higher poly-unsaturated fatty acids in compared to aorta tissue and thus this vein is not at risk of atherosclerosis and can be used as coronary arterial bypass.
