Antioxidant Modulates Fat Metabolism in the Metabolic Syndrome

By CP Staff

Supplementation with an antioxidant botanical was shown to reverse some of the abnormalities in fat metabolism seen with the metabolic syndrome, researchers reported in a new study. The metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, increased blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, a pro-thrombotic state (increased risk of clotting) and a pro-inflammatory state (increased C-reactive protein). The American Heart Association estimates that 47 million Americans have the metabolic syndrome.

In this new study, investigators evaluated the effect of a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in rats fed a high-fat diet. The rats were fed either a normal or high-fat diet for 13 weeks. Some of the rats on the high-fat diet were also supplemented with grape seed extract for the last 10 days. The proteome (the entire set of proteins) produced by the liver were then evaluated.

The study found that 90 different proteins produced by the liver, were expressed in unique patterns in the rats fed the normal diet, compared to the levels of expression of these same ninety proteins in the livers of rats fed the high-fat diet (the metabolic syndrome group). In addition, 75 of these liver proteins were expressed differently in the rats fed the high-fat diet alone, compared to the levels of these same proteins expressed in the rats fed the high-fat diet plus grape seed extract. This study corroborated previous research that showed that grape seed extract supplementation corrects the dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipid levels) seen in rats fed a high-fat diet. Many of the proteins were liver enzymes that were increased in the rats fed the high-fat diet; these enzymes were associated with increased lipid synthesis.  Supplementation with the grape seed extract reduced the expression of several of these fat producing enzymes/proteins.

The researchers concluded, “Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract was shown to have a wider effect than previously thought and putative targets of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract involved in the reversal of the symptoms of metabolic syndrome were revealed.”

Reference:

Baiges I, Palmfeldt J, Blade C, Gregersen N, Arola L. Lipogenesis is decreased by grape seed proanthocyanidins according to liver proteomics of rats fed a high fat diet. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2010 Mar 26. Published Online Ahead of Print.