p-Coumaric acid (3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid; 4CA), is a ubiquitous plant metabolite with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The antiplatelet activity of this compound was analysed both ex vivo and in vitro. 4-CA, administered to rabbits for 2 weeks at the dose of 5 mg/kg, mixed with food, inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation without affecting blood coagulation. This effect was associated with a marked increase in plasma antioxidant activity, measured as ferric reducing ability of plasma, and with the reduction of thromboxane B2 production. The antiplatelet effect was confirmed by in vitro experiments on human blood: 4CA (500 μm and 1 mm) reduced ADP-induced platelet aggregation (55·2 (se 4·01) % and 35·6 (se 2·35) % relative to basal level, respectively). 4CA was able to modify platelet function, measured with PFA-100™, a shear-inducing device that simulates primary haemostasis. 4CA interfered also with arachidonic acid cascade, reducing thromboxane B2 production and lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 generation (ic50 371 and 126 μm, respectively). The data show that 4CA is an antioxidant compound with good antiplatelet activity at doses that can be obtained with dietary intervention, suggesting possible applications for primary prevention of vascular disease.

Liver fatty acid metabolism of male rats fed on a vitamin A-deficient diet for 3 months from 21 d of age was evaluated. Vitamin A restriction produced subclinical plasma and negligible liver retinol concentrations, compared with the control group receiving the same diet with 4000 IU vitamin A (8 mg retinol as retinyl palmitate)/kg diet. Vitamin A deficiency induced a hypolipidaemic effect by decreasing serum triacylglycerol, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels. The decrease of liver total phospholipid was associated with low phosphatidylcholine synthesis observed by lower [14C]choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine, compared with control. Also, liver fatty acid synthesis decreased, as was indicated by activity and mRNA expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and incorporation of [14C]acetate into saponified lipids. A decrease of the PPARα mRNA expression was observed. Liver mitochondria of vitamin A-deficient rats showed a lower total phospholipid concentration coinciding with a decrease of the cardiolipin proportion, without changes in the other phospholipid fractions determined. The mitochondria fatty acid oxidation increased by 30 % of the control value and it was attributed to a high activity and mRNA expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I (CPT-I). An increase in serum β-hydroxybutyrate levels was observed in vitamin A-deficient rats. Vitamin A deficiency alters the mitochondria lipid composition and also enhances fatty acid oxidation by modifiying the production of malonyl-CoA, the endogenous inhibitor of CPT-I, due to decreased activity of liver ACC. The incorporation of vitamin A into the diet of vitamin A-deficient rats reverted all the changes observed.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of positional and geometric isomers of conjugated dienoic derivatives of linoleic acid. The present study was designed to determine whether 14-week CLA supplementation as triacylglycerols (3·76 g) with a 50 : 50 combination of the two main isomers (35 % cis-9, trans-11 and 35 % trans-10, cis-12) added to flavoured yoghurt-like products was able to alter body composition in healthy subjects and to alter the expression of several key adipose tissue genes (PPAR γ, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2)). Forty-four healthy subjects were randomly assigned to consume daily either a CLA-supplemented yoghurt-like product or a placebo yoghurt for 98 d. There were no significant effects of CLA supplementation on body weight, fat mass or free fat mass. Basal energy expenditure expressed as kg free fat mass increased significantly in the CLA group (123·3 (sem 2·5) kJ/kg free fat mass per d on day 98 v. 118·7 (sem 2·3) kJ/kg free fat mass per d on day 0, P = 0·03). PPAR γ mRNA gene expression increased significantly with CLA supplementation (53 (sem 20) %, P < 0·01) and a significant reduction in mRNA levels of HSL was observed ( − 42 (sem 7) %, P = 0·01). The levels of UCP-2 and LPL mRNA were not affected. The present results suggest that a 98 d supplementation diet with a 50 : 50 mixture of the two CLA isomers cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 in a dairy product was unable to alter body composition, although a significant increase in the RMR has been induced. Moreover, changes in mRNA PPAR γ and HSL in adipose tissue were recorded.

The main objective of the present study was to examine the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the digestive efficiency of dietary protein and fat. Second, we analysed the specific changes in muscle composition induced by the hormone. DHEA was given in the diet (0·5 %, w/w) to 75-week-old, high-fat-fed Sprague–Dawley rats (n 11) for 13 weeks; age- and weight-matched rats fed on the same diet without DHEA supplementation were used as controls (n 10). To determine dietary protein and fat apparent digestibility coefficients, 1-week 24 h faecal depositions were collected. In parallel, urine N was assessed. These assays were performed twice, in the short term (2-week treatment) and in the long term (13-week treatment). Body and gastrocnemius muscle compositions were also analysed. The present results show that DHEA decreased energy intake, body weight, body fat, adipocyte size and number (P < 0·001). The feed efficiency ratio indicates that DHEA-treated rats were less efficient in transforming nutrients fed into their own biomass. Also, a short-term reduction in protein digestibility (P < 0·05) and in body-protein degradation (P < 0·01) was found in DHEA-treated rats, resulting in an increased content of body protein (P < 0·05). Gastrocnemius muscles were smaller, as a result of fat (P < 0·05) but not protein reduction. In conclusion, we confirm the slimming effect of DHEA and, for the first time, we demonstrate that DHEA has an effect at the digestive level. The anti-obesity properties of DHEA could be related to a reduction in protein digestibility in the short term and a protective effect on body protein with a selective mass loss from body fat.

The intake of fruits rich in vitamin C seems to increase the antioxidant defence of the organism. However, it is still not clear whether vitamin C alone is responsible for this effect. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of the intake of a single portion of blood orange juice (BOJ, 300 ml, providing 150 mg vitamin C) on mononuclear blood cell (MNBC) DNA damage, compared with a drink supplemented with the same amount of vitamin C (C-drink) or sugars (S-drink). Seven young healthy subjects were randomised in a repeated-measures design in which they received each drink on different occasions, 2 weeks apart. Blood samples were collected at baseline, every hour for 8 h, and at 24 h after the intake of each drink. Vitamin C was analysed at each time point by HPLC, whereas H2O2-induced MNBC DNA damage was evaluated at 0, 3 and 24 h by means of the comet assay. Plasma vitamin C concentration increased similarly following BOJ or C-drink intake and was not affected by the S-drink. DNA damage significantly decreased 3 h after BOJ intake (about 18 %; P < 0·01) and remained constant at 24 h (about 16 %; P < 0·01). No effect of the C-drink and S-drink was observed. In conclusion, the intake of a single portion of BOJ provided an early protection of MNBC against oxidative DNA damage; however, the protective effect of BOJ was not explained by vitamin C alone, thus other phytochemicals could be involved.

Little is known about the biological effect of folate in the protection against mitochondrial (mt) oxidative decay. The objective of the present study was to examine the consequence of folate deprivation on mt oxidative degeneration, and the mechanistic link underlying the relationship. Male Wistar rats were fed with an amino acid-defined diet containing either 8 (control) or 0 (folate-deficient, FD) mg folic acid/kg diet. After a 4-week FD feeding period, significant elevation in oxidative stress was observed inside the liver mitochondria with a 77 % decrease in mt folate level (P < 0·001), a 28 % reduction in glutathione peroxidase activity (P = 0·0333), a 1·2-fold increase of mt protein carbonyls (P = 0·0278) and an accumulated 4834 bp large-scale deletion in mtDNA. The elicited oxidative injuries in FD liver mitochondria were associated with 30 % reduction of cytochrome c oxidase (CcOX) activity (P = 0·0264). The defective CcOX activity in FD hepatocytes coincided with mt membrane potential dissipation and intracellular superoxide elevation. Exposure of FD hepatocytes to pro-oxidant challenge (32 μm-copper sulphate for 48 h) led to a further loss in CcOX activity and mt membrane potential with a simultaneous increase in superoxide production. Preincubation of pro-oxidant-treated FD hepatocytes with supplemental folic acid (10–1000 μm) reversed the mt oxidative defects described earlier and diminished superoxide overproduction. Increased supplemented levels of folic acid strongly correlated with decreased lipid peroxidation (γ − 0·824, P = 0·0001) and protein oxidative injuries (γ − 0·865, P = 0·0001) in pro-oxidant-challenged FD liver mitochondria. Taken together, the results demonstrated that folate deprivation induces oxidative stress in liver mitochondria, which is associated with CcOX dysfunction, membrane depolarization and superoxide overproduction. The antioxidant activity of supplemental folic acid may partially, if not fully, contribute to the amelioration of pro-oxidant-elicited mt oxidative decay.

Prenatal nutritional constraint induces an altered metabolic phenotype in the offspring which in humans confers an increased risk of non-communicable disease. Feeding a protein-restricted (PR) diet to pregnant rats causes hypomethylation of specific gene promoters in the offspring and alters the phenotype. We investigated how altered epigenetic regulation of the hepatic glucocorticoid receptor (GR) 110 promoter is induced in the offspring. Rats were fed a control (180 g casein/kg) or a PR (90 g casein/kg) diet throughout pregnancy, and chow during lactation. Offspring were killed at postnatal day 34 (n 5 per maternal dietary group). Methylation-sensitive PCR showed that GR110 promoter methylation was 33 % lower (P < 0·001) and GR expression 84 % higher (P < 0·05) in the PR offspring. Reverse transcription–PCR showed that DNA methyltransferase-1 (Dnmt1) expression was 17 % lower (P < 0·05) in PR offspring, while Dnmt3a/b and methyl binding domain protein-2 expression was not altered. Thus hypomethylation of the GR110 promoter may result from lower capacity to methylate hemimethylated DNA during mitosis. Histone modifications which facilitate transcription were increased at the GR110 promoter (147–921 %, P < 0·001), while those that suppress methylation were decreased (54 %, P < 0·01) or similar to controls. In human umbilical cord (n 15), there was a 2-fold difference between the highest and lowest level of GR1-CTotal promoter methylation. Dnmt1, but not Dnmt3a, expression predicted 49 % (P = 0·003) of the variation in GR1-CTotal promoter methylation. These findings suggest that induction in the offspring of altered epigenetic regulation of the hepatic GR110 promoter, and hence metabolic phenotype, may be due to reduced Dnmt1 expression.

We analysed the spatio-temporal sequence of events concerning the morphology, physiology and ecology of the gut of piglets during the 2 weeks following weaning, in order to provide a limited number of variables that could be relevant markers of the gut post-weaning changes. An experiment was conducted on sixty piglets fasted for 2 d, then administered a weaning diet with a moderate or a high content of wheat using controlled gastric feeding, and slaughtered at different time-points post-weaning. Sixty-nine variables were analysed by principal component analysis. The results showed that the temporal changes induced in the gut by weaning can be divided into two periods: an acute period happening immediately after weaning, followed after day 5 by a more progressive adaptative and maturational phase. The main factors of this adaptation were the refeeding process and the time, while the diet per se had little influence. The villus length, lactase activity, macromolecule fluxes across the jejunum and the plasma cholecystokinin were proposed as markers of the acute phase. The mass of the jejunum, the weight of the pancreas, the content of stomach, the trypsin activity and the theophylline-induced secretion in jejunum were related to the re-feeding. Markers proposed to follow the gut maturation were the maltase activity, the glucose absorption and the basal resistance in the ileum, the lactobacilli and enterococci in the colon, and the pH of colonic and caecal contents. These markers might be helpful to design suitable diets to limit post-weaning gut disorders in pigs.

Postprandial lipaemia (PL) is associated with the metabolic syndrome, CVD and endothelial dysfunction. Aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce PL. Although resistance exercise is recommended for the improvement of the quality of life, management of body weight and prevention of several disorders, its effect on PL has received little attention. The present study examined the effects of low-volume resistance exercise (LVRE) and high-volume resistance exercise (HVRE) on PL. Ten healthy young men performed three trials, each conducted over 2 d. On the afternoon of day 1, they either refrained from exercise (control), performed LVRE (two sets of eight exercises, twelve repetitions at twelve repetitions maximum (RM) in each set; energy expenditure 0·76 MJ), or performed HVRE (four sets of eight exercises, twelve repetitions at 12RM in each set; energy expenditure 1·40 MJ). On the morning of day 2 they consumed a meal containing 67 kJ/kg body weight, of which 65 % energy was from fat. Blood samples were obtained in the fasted state and for 6 h postprandially. The total area under the TAG curve (AUC; mmol/l × h) was lower (P < 0·05) in HVRE (8·76 (sd 3·20)) and LVRE (9·29 (sd 3·64)) compared with control (11·60 (sd 4·35)). The incremental AUC was lower in HVRE compared with control (3·07 (sd 2·53) v. 5·58 (sd 3·72)), but not different between LVRE (3·86 (sd 2·29)) and control. In conclusion, resistance exercise of 1·40 MJ (four sets – eight exercises – twelve RM) or 0·76 MJ (two sets – eight exercises – twelve RM) before a high-fat meal reduces the total postprandial lipaemic response.

Marine oil-derived n-3 fatty acids have been shown to stimulate intestinal Ca absorption in animal studies, but the effects of such fatty acids on Ca absorption in human subjects are relatively unknown. In particular, n-3 fatty acids may be of therapeutic value for some Crohn's disease patients who experience Ca malabsorption. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 20 : 5n-3 and 22 : 6n-3 on transepithelial Ca transport across monolayers of healthy Caco-2 cells as well as of TNF-α-treated Caco-2 cells (an in vitro model of Crohn's disease). Caco-2 cells were seeded onto permeable filter supports and allowed to differentiate into monolayers, which were treated with 80 μm-20 : 5n-3, 80 μm-22 : 6n-3, or 40 μm-20 : 5n-3+40 μm-22 : 6n-3 for 6 or 8 d, with or without co-treatment with TNF-α (10 ng/ml) (n 11–15 monolayers per treatment). On day 16, transepithelial and transcellular transport of 45Ca and fluorescein transport (a marker of paracellular diffusion) were measured. Treatment of healthy and inflamed Caco-2 cells with 20 : 5n-3, 22 : 6n-3 and both fatty acids combined for 8 d significantly (P < 0·005–0·01) increased total transepithelial Ca transport compared with that in control, effects which were mediated by an enhanced rate of transcellular Ca transport. The effects of n-3 fatty acids on Ca absorption after 6 d were less clear-cut. In conclusion, the present in vitro findings highlight the need to investigate the effect of marine oil-based n-3 fatty acids on Ca absorption in vivo in studies of healthy human subjects as well as of Crohn's disease patients.

The isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, has been implicated in the cancer-protective effects of brassica vegetables. When broccoli is consumed, sulforaphane is released from hydrolysis of glucoraphanin by plant myrosinase and/or colonic microbiota. The influence of meal composition and broccoli-cooking duration on isothiocyanate uptake was investigated in a designed experiment. Volunteers (n 12) were each offered a meal, with or without beef, together with 150 g lightly cooked broccoli (microwaved 2·0 min) or fully cooked broccoli (microwaved 5·5 min), or a broccoli seed extract. They received 3 g mustard containing pre-formed allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) with each meal. Urinary output of allyl (AMA) and sulforaphane (SFMA) mercapturic acids, the biomarkers of production of AITC and sulforaphane respectively, were measured for 24 h after meal consumption. The estimated yield of sulforaphane in vivo was about 3-fold higher after consumption of lightly cooked broccoli than fully cooked broccoli. Absorption of AITC from mustard was about 1·3-fold higher following consumption of the meat-containing meal compared with the non meat-containing alternative. The meal matrix did not significantly influence the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin and its excretion as SFMA from broccoli. Isothiocyanates may interact with the meal matrix to a greater extent if they are ingested pre-formed rather than after their production from hydrolysis of glucosinolates in vivo. The main influence on the production of isothiocyanates in vivo is the way in which brassica vegetables are cooked, rather than the effect of the meal matrix.

ApoE is secreted by macrophages at the lesion site of the atherosclerotic plaque, where it is thought to play a protective role against atherosclerosis independently of its effects on lipid metabolism. Of the three common isoforms for apoE, apoE4 is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In vitro studies have shown that recombinant apoE may act as an antioxidant in an isoform-dependent manner (E2>E3>E4). The oxidative status of the macrophages plays a key role in the process of atherosclerosis. In the present study the possible differential actions of apoE3 and apoE4 on several parameters of oxidative status were determined in stably transfected murine macrophages (RAW 264·7-apoE3 and -apoE4). No differences between genotypes were observed after peroxide challenge in either protection against cytotoxicity or in cell membrane oxidation, and modest differences were observed in the non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione and α-tocopherol) in apoE3 v. apoE4 macrophages. Importantly, cells secreting apoE4 showed increased membrane oxidation under basal conditions, and produced more NO and superoxide anion radicals than the apoE3 macrophages after stimulation. The present data suggest that apoE genotype influences the oxidative status of macrophages, and this could partly contribute to the higher CVD risk observed in apoE4 carriers.

It is known that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) feeding decreases body adiposity but the mechanisms involved are not clear. The aim of this study was to analyse whether alterations in uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in white and brown adipose tissues (WAT and BAT, respectively) and in skeletal muscle may be responsible for the effect of trans-10, cis-12 CLA on the size of body fat depots in hamsters. Animals were divided into three groups and fed an atherogenic diet with different amounts of trans-10, cis-12 CLA (0 control, 0·5, or 1 g/100 g diet) for 6 weeks. CLA feeding reduced adipose depot weights, but had no effect on body weight. Leptin mRNA expression decreased in both subcutaneous and perirenal WAT depots, in accordance with lower adiposity, whereas resistin mRNA expression was not changed. Animals fed CLA had lower UCP1 mRNA levels in BAT (both doses of CLA) and in perirenal WAT (the low dose), and lower UCP3 mRNA levels in subcutaneous WAT (the high dose). UCP2 mRNA expression in WAT was not significantly affected by CLA feeding. Animals fed the high dose of CLA showed increased UCP3 and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I) mRNA expression levels in skeletal muscle. In summary, induction of UCP1 or UCP2 in WAT and BAT is not likely to be responsible for the fat-reduction action of CLA, but the increased expression of UCP3 in skeletal muscle, together with a higher expression of CPT-I, may explain the previously reported effects of dietary CLA in lowering adiposity and increasing fatty acid oxidation by skeletal muscle.

Mice fed diets containing trans 10, cis 12 (t10, c12)-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) develop fatty livers and the role of hepatic fatty acid oxidation enzymes in this development is not well defined. We examined the effects of dietary cis 9, trans 11-CLA (c9, t11-CLA) and t10, c12-CLA on the expression of hepatic genes for fatty acid metabolism. Female mice, 8 weeks old, (six animals per group) were fed either a control diet or diets supplemented with 0·5 % c9, t11- or t10, c12-CLA for 8 weeks. DNA microarray analysis showed that t10, c12-CLA increased the expression of 278 hepatic genes and decreased those of 121 genes (>2-fold); c9, t11-CLA increased expression of twenty-two genes and decreased those of nine. Real-time PCR confirmed that t10, c12-CLA reduced by the expression of fatty acid oxidation genes including flavin monooxygenase (FMO)-3 95 %, cytochrome P450 (cyt P450) 69 %, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1a 77 %, acetyl CoA oxidase (ACOX) 50 % and PPARα 65 %; it increased the expression of fatty acid synthase by 3·5-fold (P < 0·05 for all genes, except ACOX P = 0·08). It also reduced the enzymatic activity of hepatic microsomal FMO by 40 % and the FMO3 specific protein by 67 %. c9, t11-CLA reduced FMO3 and cyt P450 expression by 61 % (P = 0·001) and 38 % (P = 0·06) and increased steoryl CoA desaturase transcription by 5·9-fold (P = 0·07). Both decreased fatty acid oxidation and increased fatty acid synthesis seem to contribute to the CLA-induced fatty liver. Since FMO and cyt P450 are also involved in drug detoxification, suppression of the transcription of these genes by CLA may have other health consequences besides development of fatty liver.

The accretion of methionine and protein as a function of methionine intake was assessed in growing ducks between 22 and 42 d post-hatching. Four graded doses of dl-methionine at 0, 0·5, 1·0 or 1·5 g/kg diet were added to a methionine-limiting basal diet and fed to four replicate groups of four ducks each. The growth and efficiency of food use for growth increased linearly (P < 0·05) as a function of methionine intake. The accretion of body protein increased (P < 0·001) from 87·5 to 182·2 g, and that of methionine from 1616 to 3125 mg, over the 21 d period as dietary methionine increased. The accretion rate of methionine in the body (y, mg/d) as a function of methionine intake (x, mg/d) of ducks fed diets containing supplemental methionine at 0, 0·5, 1·0 or 1·5 g/kg diet from day 22 to day 42 post-hatching gave the regression equation: y = − 148·86 (se 32·558)+0·312 (se 0·0384)X, r2 = 0·8253. For protein accretion rate in the body (y, mg/d) as a function of methionine intake (x, mg/d), the regression equation was: y = − 9782 (se 2204)+19·505 (se 2·5994)x, r2 = 0·8009. There was a linear relationship between methionine (y, mg/d) and protein (x, mg/d) accretion in ducks that was described by the equation y = 12·757 (se 7·4019)+0·01 525 (se 0·00 107)x, r2 = 0·9355. The results of these studies suggest a constant utilisation of methionine over the range 2·4–3·9 g digestible methionine/kg diet, with an efficiency of 31 %. Furthermore, the results suggest a quantitative relationship of 15 mg methionine for every gram of protein accretion.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with the Driselase-treated fraction (DF) of rice bran and ferulic acid (FA) on hypertension and glucose and lipid metabolism in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Male SHRSP at 4 weeks of age were divided into three groups, and for 8 weeks were fed (1) a control diet based on AIN-93M, (2) a DF of rice bran-supplemented diet at 60 g/kg and (3) an FA-supplemented diet at 0·01 g/kg. Means and standard errors were calculated and the data were tested by one-way ANOVA followed by a least significance difference test. The results showed that both the DF and FA diets significantly improved hypertension as well as glucose tolerance, plasma nitric oxide (NOx), urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and other parameters. In particular, compared to the FA diet, the DF diet produced a significant improvement in urinary NOx, hepatic triacylglycerol and several mRNA expressions of metabolic parameters involved in glucose and lipid metabolisms. The results of the metabolic syndrome-related parameters obtained from this study suggest that the DF diet is more effective than the FA diet.

Recent studies have shown that dietary oxidised fats influence the lipid metabolism in rats by activation of PPARα. In this study, we investigated whether a mildly oxidised fat causes activation of PPARα in pigs which are non-proliferators like man. Eighteen pigs were assigned to two groups and received either a diet containing 90 g/kg of a fresh fat or the same diet with 90 g/kg of an oxidised fat prepared by heating for 24 h at 180°C in a deep fryer. Pigs fed the oxidised fat had a higher peroxisome count, a higher activity of catalase and a higher mRNA concentration of mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase in the liver and a higher concentration of 3-hydroxybutyrate in plasma than pigs fed the fresh fat (P < 0·05). Hepatic mRNA concentrations of acyl-CoA oxidase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 tended to be increased in pigs fed the oxidised fat compared to pigs fed the fresh fat (P < 0·10). Pigs fed the oxidised fat, moreover, had higher mRNA concentrations of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 and its target genes acetyl-CoA carboxylase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase in the liver and higher mRNA concentrations of SREBP-2 and its target genes 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary-CoA reductase and LDL receptor in liver and small intestine. In conclusion, this study shows that even a mildly oxidised fat causes activation of PPARα in the liver of pigs. Up-regulation of SREBP and its target genes in liver and small intestine suggests that the oxidised fat could stimulate synthesis of cholesterol and TAG in these tissues.

We have previously shown that dietary red palm oil (RPO) supplementation improves functional recovery in hearts subjected to ischaemia–reperfusion. However, little knowledge exists concerning the effects of RPO supplementation of a high-cholesterol diet on ischaemia–reperfusion injury. The signalling mechanisms responsible for RPO's effects in the presence of cholesterol also remain to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of RPO, given with a high-cholesterol diet, on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and apoptosis. Long–Evans rats were fed a control diet, a control diet containing 2 % cholesterol, or a control diet containing 2 % cholesterol and 7 g RPO per kg (CRPO) for 5 weeks. Hearts were excised and mounted on an isolated working heart perfusion apparatus. Cardiac function was measured after which hearts were freeze-clamped and used to assess MAPK phosphorylation and to evaluate apoptosis. Cholesterol supplementation caused a poor aortic output (AO) recovery compared with the control group (35·5 (sem 6·2) v. 55·4 (sem 2·5) %), but when RPO was added, the percentage AO increased significantly. The cholesterol group's poor AO was associated with a significant increase in p38-MAPK phosphorylation, whereas the CRPO-supplemented group showed as significant reduction in p38-MAPK phosphorylation when compared with the cholesterol-supplemented group. This significant reduction in p38-MAPK was also associated with reduced apoptosis as indicated by significant reductions in caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage.

We investigated the combined effect of dietary supplementation with l-arginine, which is the precursor of NO, and pharmacological treatment with atorvastatin, which is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitor, on the development of atherosclerosis in homozygous Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic rabbits. Rabbits were fed either standard rabbit chow (group C; n 9) as control, a 1·5 % l-arginine diet (group A; n 9), standard rabbit chow plus atorvastatin (2·5 mg/kg per d) in drinking water (group S; n 8), or standard rabbit chow plus a 1·5 % l-arginine diet with atorvastatin (group SA; n 8). Blood was sampled at 2-week intervals. After 8 weeks (T8), the aorta was harvested for topographic and histological analysis. Only the SA group showed decreases in total area of lesions (21 %) and the area of abdominal lesions (44 %) compared with the control group (P = 0·019). Furthermore, plaques in the SA group were smaller and less thick than those observed in the S group. Unexpectedly, plasma nitrite + nitrate levels were not modified under either the l-arginine diet alone or under l-arginine plus atorvastatin. The present study is the first to demonstrate that diet supplementation with l-arginine associated with a statin (atorvastatin) is more efficient in reducing lesion size than treatment with l-arginine or a statin alone. This is a relatively novel therapeutic approach associating a macronutrient and a drug.

The effects of graded levels (0 %, 0·5 %, 0·75 and 1 %) of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were assessed on 97 g rainbow trout. Fish were fed to satiation twice a day for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, all groups of fish weighed more than 250 g and no significant differences were detected in growth performance, feed conversion, nutrient or energy utilisation or body composition between treatments. A decrease in liver lipid content resulted from including CLA and was accompanied by a reduction in malic enzyme activity. The muscle saturated acid and PUFA content did not vary between dietary treatments, despite the increasing concentration of stearic acid and CLA. In the liver, however, both fractions increased significantly with dietary CLA. Moreover, the MUFA decreased significantly in both muscle and liver. CLA was incorporated into tissue lipids, with levels in flesh (2·1–4·2 %) being 2-fold higher than in liver (0·8–1·9 %). In muscle, the percentage of cis-9, trans-11 isomer ranged from 39·5 % to 41·8 % and that of trans-10, cis-12 isomer from 31·4 % to 33·4 % of total CLA. The incorporation of CLA isomers in the liver varied with dietary treatment, and the cis-9, trans-11 isomer seemed to be more efficiently incorporated than trans-10, cis-12. Sensory data indicated slight-to-moderate differences between the trout fed with and without CLA. The present results suggest that 250 g rainbow trout can incorporate CLA in both muscle and liver, contributing to the production of a functional food.