Effects of Watermelon and L-Arginine Consumption on Serum Lipid Profile, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Rats (original) (raw)

The FASEB Journal, 2016

Abstract

Both watermelon and L-arginine consumption may reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by promoting endothelial nitric oxide production; however, few studies have directly compared the effects of these agents on blood lipids, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of watermelon extract (powder) or L-arginine supplementation on CVD risk factors in rats fed an atherogenic high-fat diet. After 9 weeks of feeding, rat (Sprague-Dawley, male, 21 days old) serum samples were collected from animals fed diets containing 0.5% watermelon powder (n = 11), 0.36% L-arginine (n = 11) or a control diet (n = 10) to evaluate a variety of biomarkers that are associated with lipid profile, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Both L-arginine and watermelon groups exhibited improved lipid profile as indicated by significantly lower (P<0.05) serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. In contrast, serum high density...

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