Diet Rich in Lard Promotes a Metabolic Environment Favorable to Trypanosoma cruzi Growth

Background:Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease and affects 6–7 million people mainly in Latin America and worldwide. Here, we investigated the effects of hyperlipidic diets, mainly composed of olive oil or lard on experimental T. cruzi infection. C57BL/6 mice were fed two different dietary types in which the main sources of fatty acids were either monounsaturated (olive oil diet) or saturated (lard diet).Methods: After 60 days on the diet, mice were infected with 50 trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi Colombian strain. We evaluated the systemic and tissue parasitism, tissue inflammation, and the redox status of mice after 30 days of infection.Results: Lipid levels in the liver of mice fed with the lard diet increased compared with that of the mice fed with olive oil or normolipidic diets. The lard diet group presented with an increased parasitic load in the heart and adipose tissues following infection as well as an increased expression of Tlr2 and Tlr9 in the heart. However, no changes were seen in the survival rates across the dietary groups. Infected mice receiving all diets presented comparable levels of recruited inflammatory cells at 30 days post-infection but, at this time, we observed lard diet inducing an overproduction of CCL2 in the cardiac tissue and its inhibition in the adipose tissue. T. cruzi infection altered liver antioxidant levels in mice, with the lard diet group demonstrating decreased catalase (CAT) activity compared with that of other dietary groups.Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that T. cruzi growth is more favorable on tissue of mice subjected to the lard diet. Our findings supported our hypothesis of a relationship between the source of dietary lipids and parasite-induced immunopathology.

Fish oil suppresses obesity more potently in lean mice than in diet-induced obese mice but ameliorates steatosis in such obese mice

ABSTRACT This study sought to clarify the antiobesity effects of fish oil (FO) in terms of prevention and amelioration. An isocaloric diet composed of lard or FO was given to lean C57BL/6J mice for the study of prevention and high-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mice for the study of amelioration for 4 weeks. Body weight gain and food efficiency were potently suppressed by FO in lean mice compared to lard diet-fed mice. Uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) expression in inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT) was also significantly induced by FO in lean mice. FO also suppressed body weight gain and food efficiency in DIO mice but did not reduce body weight. FO ameliorated liver steatosis in DIO mice by mildly inducing UCP-1 in inguinal WAT. FO suppressed obesity more potently in lean mice than in DIO mice but ameliorated steatosis in the DIO mice.

Effect of Live Lactobacillus Paracasei NFRI 7415 on the Preference for a Lard Diet or Fish Oil Diet in Rats

<p><em>This study examined the effect of live <em><em>Lactobacillus paracasei</em></em> NFRI 7415 on the preference of a lard diet (LD) and a fish-oil diet (FD) in rats. 4-week-old male Fischer 344 rats were fed one of four diets; LD, LD + lactic acid bacteria (LLD), FD and FD + lactic acid bacteria for 4 weeks (dietary experimental period). The LLD and FLD groups freely ingested water containing <em><em>Lb. paracasei</em></em> NFRI 7415 (10⁷ cfu/ml). After 4 weeks, all rats were placed on a two-choice diet program in which they self-selected from two food cups, each containing either the LD or the FD for 5 weeks (self-selection period). After the dietary experimental period, there was no significant difference in the final body weight and total food intake among the four groups. The intake of fish-oil and live <em><em>Lb. paracasei</em></em> NFRI 7415 was increasing the fecal lipids excretion, and it effectively reduced plasma total cholesterol concentration (p&lt;0.05). It was indicated that the intake of live <em><em>Lb. paracasei</em></em> NFRI 7415 was no influence on the preference for fat in the dietary experimental period and the self-selection period.</em></p>

GAMBARAN HISTOLOGI AORTA TIKUS WISTAR DENGAN DIET LEMAK BABI SETELAH PEMBERIAN EKSTRAK DAUN SIRSAK (annona muricata L.)

Soursop leaves contain several antioxidants e.g. flavonoid, vitamin C which have antiatherogenic effect that may inhibit the progression of atherosclerotic lession. The risk factor for atherosclerosis is the consumption of food containing highly saturated fatty acids e.g. lard. Low density Lipoproteins (LDL) will be accumulated within the intima and then be oxidized (LDL-ox). This substances ingested by macrophages, resulting in foam-cell formation. The aim of this study is to find out the histological feature of the aorta of wistar rats having lard diets without the addition of soursop leaf extract; having lard diets along with soursop leaf extract; and with which having lard diets followed by soursop extract. This study used experimental method study consisted of 16 wistar rats dividing into 4 groups: group I without treatment (negative control group), group II using lard diet for 14 days (positive control group), group III using lard diet diet with soursop leaf extract for 14 days (treatment group I), and group IV using lard diet for 14 days, and then followed by soursop leaf extract for 14 days (treatment group II). It was found that the aorta of group I showed foam cells in intima and media layers; in the group II showed foam cells in intima and media layers; group III and IV there were not foam cell in their intima and media layers. Summary: the aorta histological features of wistar rats being given lard diets for 14 days, showed foam cells in intima and media layers. Soursop leaf extract adding to lard diets had effect on decreasing foam cells formation (having protective effect), and the effect of giving lard diets following the addition soursop leaf extract showed a reduction of foam cells formation (having therapeutic effect). Keywords: soursop leaf, lard dietary, foam cell, wistar rat. Daun sirsak mengandung antioksidan (flavonoid, vitamin C) yang berefek anti-aterogenik, sehingga membuat daun sirsak berkhasiat untuk menghambat perkembangan lesi aterosklerosis. Faktor resiko penyebab aterosklerosis adalah mengonsumsi makanan yang mengandung asam lemak jenuh yang tinggi, antara lain lemak babi. Konsumsi lemak jenuh berlebih dapat mengganggu fungsi sel endotel, sehingga lipoprotein berdensitas rendah (LDL) dapat masuk dan menjadi LDL teroksidasi (LDL-oks). Makrofag menangkap LDL-oks dan menjadi sel busa (lesi dini aterosklerosis). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran histologi aorta tikus wistar dengan diet lemak babi tanpa pemberian ekstrak daun sirsak, diet lemak babi bersamaan dengan pemberian ekstrak daun sirsak, dan setelah diet lemak babi dilanjutkan pemberian ekstrak daun sirsak. Penelitian bersifat eksperimental. Subjek penelitian terdiri dari 16 ekor tikus wistar yang dibagi menjadi empat kelompok: kelompok I tanpa perlakuan (kelompok kontrol negatif); kelompok II dengan diet lemak babi selama 14 hari (kelompok kontrol positif); kelompok III dengan diet lemak babi serta pemberian ekstrak daun sirsak selama 14 hari (kelompok perlakuan I); kelompok IV dengan diet lemak babi selama 14 hari, dilanjutkan pemberian ekstrak daun sirsak selama 14 hari (kelompok perlakuan II). Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan gambaran histologi aorta tikus wistar kelompok I tampak sel-sel busa pada lapisan intima dan media; pada kelompok II terdapat sel-sel busa; pada kelompok III dan IV tidak terdapat sel busa. Simpulan: tikus wistar dengan diet lemak babi selama 14 hari memperlihatkan gambaran histologi aorta tikus wistar terdapat sel busa pada tunika intima dan tunika media. Pemberian ekstrak daun sirsak bersamaan dengan diet lemak babi berefek menurunkan jumlah sel busa (efek protektif). Pemberian ekstrak daun sirsak setelah diet lemak babi selama 14 hari berefek mengurangi jumlah sel-sel busa yang terbentuk (efek terapi). Kata kunci: daun sirsak, diet lemak babi, tikus wistar.

GAMBARAN HISTOLOGIK AORTA TIKUS WISTAR DENGAN DIET LEMAK BABI SETELAH PEMBERIAN EKSTRAK DAUN PEPAYA

Papaya leaves contain several antioxidants (flavonoid, tanin, and vitamin C) which have antiatherogenic effects that may inhibit the progression of an atherosclerotic lesion. One of the risk factors causing atherosclerosis is the consumption of food containing highly saturated fatty acids e.g. lard. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) accumulate within the intima and then are oxidized (LDL-ox). This LDL-ox is ingested by macrophages, resulting in foam-cell formation (early lesion of atherosclerosis). This study aimed to find out the histological features of the aorta of wistar rats having lard diets without the addition of the papaya leaf extract; having lard diets along with the papaya leaf extract; and having lard diets followed by papaya leaf extract. This was an experimental study on 16 wistar rats divided into 4 groups: group I without treatment (negative control group), group II lard diet for 14 days (positive control group), group III lard diet with papaya leaf extract for 14 days (treatment group I), and group IV lard diet for 14 days, and then followed by papaya leaf extract for 14 days (treatment group II). It was found that the aorta of group I showed adipose cells in the intima and media layers; group II and III showed foam cells in both layers; and group IV showed foam cells in fewer numbers than group II. Conclusion: The aorta histological features of wistar rats given lard diets for 14 days, with or without papaya leaf extract, showed foam cells in the intima and media layers. Papaya leaf extraxt added to lard diets had no effect on decreasing foam cells (no protective effect), meanwhile papaya leaf extract following lard diets showed a reduction of foam cells (therapeutic effect). Keywords: papaya leaf, lard dietary, foam cells, wistar rat. Abstrak: Daun pepaya mengandung antioksidan (flavonoid, vitamin C) yang berefek anti-aterogenik, sehingga diharapkan dapat menghambat perkembangan lesi aterosklerosis. Salah satu faktor risiko penyebab aterosklerosis yaitu makanan yang berkandungan tinggi asam lemak jenuh, antara lain lemak babi. Konsumsi lemak jenuh berlebihan dapat mengganggu fungsi sel endotel, sehingga lipoprotein berdensitas rendah (LDL) dapat masuk dan menjadi LDL teroksidasi (LDL-oks). Makrofag menangkap LDL-oks dan menjadi sel busa (lesi dini aterosklerosis). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran histologik aorta tikus wistar dengan diet lemak babi tanpa pemberian ekstrak daun pepaya, diet lemak babi bersamaan pemberian ekstrak daun pepaya, dan setelah diet lemak babi dilanjutkan pemberian ekstrak daun pepaya. Penelitian ini bersifat eksperimental. Subyek penelitian terdiri dari 16 ekor tikus wistar yang dibagi menjadi empat kelompok: kelompok I tanpa perlakuan (kelompok kontrol negatif); kelompok II dengan diet lemak babi selama 14 hari (kelompok kontrol positif); kelompok III dengan diet lemak babi serta pemberian ekstrak daun pepaya selama 14 hari (kelompok perlakuan I); dan kelompok IV dengan diet lemak babi selama 14 hari, dilanjutkan pemberian ekstrak daun pepaya selama 14 hari (kelompok perlakuan II). Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan gambaran histologi aorta kelompok I tampak perlemakan; pada kelompok II terdapat sel-sel busa; pada kelompok III masih terdapat sel-sel busa; dan pada kelompok IV terdapat sel-sel busa, namun dalam jumlah yang lebih sedikit dibandingkan pada gambaran kelompok II. Simpulan: Tikus wistar dengan diet lemak babi selama 14 hari, baik dengan maupun tanpa ekstrak daun pepaya, memperlihatkan gambaran histologik adanya sel-sel busa pada tunika intima dan tunika media aorta. Pemberian ekstrak daun pepaya bersamaan dengan diet lemak babi tidak berefek menurunkan jumlah sel busa (tidak ada efek protektif) sedangkan pemberian ekstrak daun pepaya setelah diet lemak babi berefek mengurangi jumlah sel-sel busa yang terbentuk (efek terapi). Kata kunci: daun pepaya, diet lemak babi, sel-sel busa, tikus wistar.