Abstract:
Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
This study evaluated the effect of curcumin on vascular dysfunction relative factors
using rats fed on high sucrose, high fat (HSF) diet. The experiment was conducted in two
animal feeding stages. In the first feeding phase, male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly
divided into two groups: control group (n=8) was fed on AIN-93G diet and HSF group
(n=24) was fed on HSF diet for 8 weeks to induce obese status. In the second feeding
phase lasting 4 weeks, HSF group was further randomly subdivided into three
subgroups: O group (n=8) continued feeding on HSF diet; OA group (n=8) had HSF
diet replaced with AIN-93G diet; and OC group (n=8) was fed on HSF diet
supplemented with curcumin (300mg/kg body weight/day). After 8 weeks, HSF diet
significantly elevated levels of AST, ALT, insulin, HOMA-IR, LDL-C, Hcy, CRP,
VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, but significantly reduced levels of NO and HDL-C. After
dietary intervention, OA and OC groups exhibited significantly lower levels of AST,
ALT, HOMA-IR, cholesterol, LDL-C, Hcy, CRP, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, and higher
levels of NO and CAT activity compared to those of O group. SOD, CAT and GPx
activities were increased in OA group. CAT levels were enhanced in OC group. In
conclusion, this study showed curcumin supplementation and dietary replacement can
inhibit HSF diet-induced vascular dysfunction potentially through enhanced NO
production and antioxidant enzymes activities, thereby leading to suppressed
inflammation and oxidative damage in the vascular endothelium
