Cardioprotective effect of intermittent fasting is associated with an elevation of adiponectin levels in rats - PubMed (original) (raw)

Cardioprotective effect of intermittent fasting is associated with an elevation of adiponectin levels in rats

Ruiqian Wan et al. J Nutr Biochem. 2010 May.

Abstract

It has been reported that dietary energy restriction, including intermittent fasting (IF), can protect heart and brain cells against injury and improve functional outcome in animal models of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Here we report that IF improves glycemic control and protects the myocardium against ischemia-induced cell damage and inflammation in rats. Echocardiographic analysis of heart structural and functional variables revealed that IF attenuates the growth-related increase in posterior ventricular wall thickness, end systolic and diastolic volumes, and reduces the ejection fraction. The size of the ischemic infarct 24 h following permanent ligation of a coronary artery was significantly smaller, and markers of inflammation (infiltration of leukocytes in the area at risk and plasma IL-6 levels) were less, in IF rats compared to rats on the control diet. IF resulted in increased levels of circulating adiponectin prior to and after MI. Because recent studies have shown that adiponectin can protect the heart against ischemic injury, our findings suggest a potential role for adiponectin as a mediator of the cardioprotective effect of IF.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Rats maintained for 3 months on an intermittent fasting (IF) diet exhibit lower body weights, and reduced levels of circulating glucose and insulin, compared to rats maintained on an ad libitum (AL) diet. A. Body weights of AL and IF rats prior to and during the 3 month diet period. Body weights of rats on the IF diet were measured on consecutive fasting and feeding days (IF fed, IF rats on a feeding day; IF fast, IF rats on a fasting day). Values are the mean and SEM (n=15). **p<0.01 compared to the value for the AL group (for all time points from 2 through 12 weeks). B. Levels of blood glucose and plasma insulin in rats that had been maintained for 3 months on either AL or IF diets. Values are the mean and SEM (n=15). ** p<0.01 compared to AL value.

Figure 2

Figure 2

An IF diet protects the heart against ischemic injury in a rat myocardial infarction model. The area at risk (AAR) and MI size in rats 24 hr after coronary artery ligation surgery. The AAR was expressed as a percentage of the left ventricle, and the MI size was expressed as a percentage of AAR. Values are the mean and SEM (n=15). * p<0.05 compared to AL value.

Figure 3

Figure 3

An IF diet reduces the number of cardiomyocytes with TUNEL–positive staining and decreases numbers of infiltrating pro-inflammatory cells in a rat MI model. A. Representative heart tissue sections from the AAR from rats that had been maintained for 3 months on either AL or IF diets and then subjected to myocardial ischemia for 24 hours; the sections were stained with either TUNEL or H&E (bar = 100 µm). B. Numbers of TUNEL positive myocytes (left) and inflammatory cells (right) in the AAR. Values are the mean and SEM (n = 15). *p<0.05.

Figure 4

Figure 4

Plasma levels of adiponectin are elevated in rats maintained on an IF diet before and after myocardial infarction. Values are the mean and SEM (n = 15). **p<0.01.

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