Unlocking the Cardiovascular Benefits of Walnuts: Insights on Molecular Mechanism From Animal Studies.

The health-promoting benefits of walnut consumption are substantially ascribed to its fatty acid (FA) profile, which is rich in polyunsaturated FA with an exceptionally high n-3 to n-6 ratio. There are also phytonutrients in walnuts that are linked to health welfare. This review article integrates all studies on the effects of walnuts on the cardiovascular system performed on experimental animals, and thus is a source of data on the mechanisms underlying the observed effects.

Quercetin decreases fructose drinking in model of fructose-induced insulin resistance. Unexpected uric acid and TBARS lowering effect of methyl cellulose vehicle and fructose combination.

The aim of this study was to improve insulin sensitivity in fructose-treated animals by ingestion of flavonoid quercetin. Several signs of insulin resistance have been developed in rats by drinking 10% fructose solution for 9 weeks. The effect of 6-week-gavage-administrated quercetin (20 mg/kg/day in 1% methyl cellulose solution) was monitored.

Effects of Walnut-Rich Diet on Cation-Handling Proteins in the Heart of Healthy and Metabolically Compromised Male Rats.

The transport of cations in the cardiomyocytes, crucial for the functioning of the heart, can be affected by walnut diet due to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Healthy and metabolically compromised rats (drinking 10% fructose solution) were subjected to a diet supplemented with 2.4 g of walnuts for 6 weeks to investigate the effect on proteins involved in cation transport in the heart cells.

Cholecalciferol affects cardiac proteins regulating malonyl-CoA availability and intracellular calcium level.

Cholecalciferol improves insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in the heart and reduces circulating non-esterified fatty acids. Cholecalciferol effects on the cardiac fatty acid (FA) metabolism and the consequences on calcium handling were examined. Blood lipid profile was determined.

Low-Intensity Exercise Affects Cardiac Fatty Acid Oxidation by Increasing the Nuclear Content of PPARα, FOXO1, and Lipin1 in Fructose-Fed Rats.

Excessive fructose consumption along with a sedentary lifestyle provokes metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Fructose overload causes cardiac insulin resistance and increases reliance on fatty acid (FA) uptake and catabolism. The cardiometabolic benefits of exercise training have long been appreciated.

Walnut supplementation after fructose-rich diet is associated with a beneficial fatty acid ratio and increased ACE2 expression in the rat heart.

Increased fructose consumption has been linked with chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and NF-κB have been detected in MetS. Walnuts are a rich source of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) that were suggested to exert anti-inflammatory effects related to cardio-metabolic health.

Consumption of walnuts suppresses the conversion of palmitic to palmitoleic acid and enhances omega-3 fatty acid metabolism in the heart of fructose-fed rats.

Walnut consumption mostly has a positive implication for cardiovascular health. Walnut diet effects on the cardiac fatty acid (FA) metabolism of healthy rats and those with fructose diet-induced metabolic burden were analysed. Both walnuts and fructose increased CD36 transporter level and the nuclear content of some/all of Lipin 1/PPARα/PGC-1 complex partners, as well as cytosolic and nuclear FOXO1.

Obesity-related prepartal insulin resistance in dairy cows is associated with increased lipin 1 and decreased FATP 1 expression in skeletal muscle.

A number of alterations have been identified in lipid metabolism within adipose tissue and liver in obesity. Less is known about the capacity of skeletal muscle for the metabolism of fatty acids in obesity-related insulin resistance, though it is evident that dry cow muscles may contain increased triglyceride content. The current study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the skeletal muscle expression of proteins of the fatty acid metabolism in dry cows with different body condition scores (BCS).

Cholecalciferol ameliorates insulin signalling and insulin regulation of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism in the rat heart.

Context: The evidence on potential cross-talk of vitamin D and insulin in the regulation of cardiac metabolism is very scanty.

Objective: Cholecalciferol was administered to male Wistar rats for six weeks to study its effects on cardiac glucose metabolism regulation.

Materials And Methods: An expression, phosphorylation and/or subcellular localisation of insulin signalling molecules, glucose transport and metabolism key proteins were studied.

The effects of low-intensity exercise on cardiac glycogenesis and glycolysis in male and ovariectomized female rats on a fructose-rich diet.

We previously reported that low-intensity exercise prevented cardiac insulin resistance induced by a fructose-rich diet (FRD). To examine whether low-intensity exercise could prevent the disturbances of key molecules of cardiac glucose metabolism induced by FRD in male and ovariectomized (ovx) female rats, animals were exposed to 10% fructose solution (SF) or underwent both fructose diet and exercise (EF). Exercise prevented a decrease in cardiac GSK-3β phosphorylation induced by FRD in males (p < .

Walnut Supplementation Restores the SIRT1-FoxO3a-MnSOD/Catalase Axis in the Heart, Promotes an Anti-Inflammatory Fatty Acid Profile in Plasma, and Lowers Blood Pressure on Fructose-Rich Diet.

The benefits of walnut () consumption for metabolic health are known, but the molecular background underlying their putative antioxidant and anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory effects is underexplored. We assessed that walnut supplementation (6 weeks) reverted unfavorable changes of the SIRT1/FoxO3a/MnSOD/catalase axis in the heart induced by fructose-rich diet (FRD). Intriguingly, Nox4 was increased by both FRD and walnut supplementation.

Low-intensity exercise diverts cardiac fatty acid metabolism from triacylglycerol synthesis to beta oxidation in fructose-fed rats.

Context: Excessive fructose consumption causes ectopic lipid storage leading to metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases associated with defective substrate utilisation in the heart.

Objective: Examining the preventive impact of low-intensity exercise on alterations related to fructose-rich diet (FRD) on cardiac fatty acid (FA) transport and metabolism.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into control and two groups that received 10% fructose for 9 weeks, one of which was additionally exposed to exercise.

Walnut Consumption Induces Tissue-Specific Omega-6/Omega-3 Decrease in High-Fructose-Fed Wistar Rats.

Increased dietary, blood, and tissue n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios are associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Due to Westernized dietary patterns, the increasing n-6/n-3 ratio is of growing concern worldwide, and dietary strategies aimed at its lowering are of public health importance. Walnuts are rich in dietary fats, and their consumption promotes cardiometabolic health.

Beneficial effect of walnuts on vascular tone is associated with Akt signalling, voltage-dependent calcium channel LTCC and ATP-sensitive potassium channel Kv1.2.

Consumption of walnuts is beneficial for cardiovascular health. To study walnut effects on proteins involved in vascular tone regulation, control and fructose-fed rats were subjected to walnut diet for 6 weeks. In contrast with increased energy intake and body mass gain, aortic protein level of L-type calcium channel alpha subunit was decreased and the level of SUR2B subunit of ATP-sensitive K + channel was increased in healthy rats subjected to walnuts, together with improved Akt phosphorylation.

Effects of a fructose-rich diet and chronic stress on insulin signaling and regulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta and the sodium-potassium pump in the hearts of male rats.

Both a diet rich in fructose and chronic stress exposure induce metabolic and cardiovascular disturbances. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the fructose-rich diet and chronic stress, separately and in combination, on insulin signaling and molecules regulating glycogen synthesis and ion transport in the heart, and to reveal whether these effects coincide with changes in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 10% fructose in drinking water and/or to chronic unpredictable stress for 9 weeks.

Low-intensity exercise in the prevention of cardiac insulin resistance-related inflammation and disturbances in NOS and MMP-9 regulation in fructose-fed ovariectomized rats.

Exercise is important nonpharmacological treatment for improvement of insulin sensitivity in menopause. However, its effect on menopausal cardiac insulin resistance is needing further research. We investigated protective effects of low-intensity exercise on cardiac insulin signaling, inflammation, regulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in ovariectomized (OVX) Wistar rats, submitted to 10% fructose solution for 9 weeks.

Fructose-rich diet differently affects angiotensin II receptor content in the nucleus and a plasma membrane fraction of visceral adipose tissue.

The adipose tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is proposed to be a pathophysiological link between adipose tissue dysregulation and metabolic disorders induced by a fructose-rich diet (FRD). RAS can act intracellularly. We hypothesized that adipocyte nuclear membranes possess angiotensin receptor types 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R), which couple to nuclear signaling pathways and regulate oxidative gene expression under FRD conditions.

Obesity- and age-related alterations in FAT/CD36 translocation and lipin-1 subcellular localization in skeletal muscle of the Zucker rats.

Fatty acid (FA) uptake and/or intramuscular triglyceride (TG) accumulation in skeletal muscle are increased in obesity, type 2 diabetes and aging. FA translocase (FAT/CD36) translocation, lipin-1 subcellular localization and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 protein content in quadriceps muscle of young and old obese Zucker fa/fa rats and their lean controls were analyzed by immunoblot to define obesity- and aging-related alterations in FA uptake, their subsequent metabolic fate and potential to activate pro-inflammatory signaling. As expected, obesity increased FAT/CD36 content in plasma membrane in quadriceps muscle of fa/fa rats.

Fructose-rich diet and insulin action in female rat heart: Estradiol friend or foe?

Increased intake of fructose in humans and laboratory animals is demonstrated to be a risk factor for development of metabolic disorders (insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes) and cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, estradiol is emphasized as a cardioprotective agent. The main goal of this review is to summarize recent findings on damaging cardiac effects of fructose-rich diet in females, mostly experimental animals, and to evaluate protective capacity of estradiol.

Effect of Peroral Administration of Chromium on Insulin Signaling Pathway in Skeletal Muscle Tissue of Holstein Calves.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of peroral administration of chromium-enriched yeast on glucose tolerance in Holstein calves, assessed by insulin signaling pathway molecule determination and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Twenty-four Holstein calves, aged 1 month, were chosen for the study and divided into two groups: the PoCr group (n = 12) that perorally received 0.04 mg of Cr/kg of body mass daily, for 70 days, and the NCr group (n = 12) that received no chromium supplementation.

Obesity-driven prepartal hepatic lipid accumulation in dairy cows is associated with increased CD36 and SREBP-1 expression.

We investigated the hypothesis that obesity in dairy cows enhanced expression of proteins involved in hepatic fatty acid uptake and metabolism. Sixteen Holstein-Friesian close-up cows were divided into 2 equal groups based on their body condition score (BCS) as optimal (3.25≤BCS≤3.

Fructose-rich diet induces gender-specific changes in expression of the renin-angiotensin system in rat heart and upregulates the ACE/AT1R axis in the male rat aorta.

Introduction: The cardiovascular renin-angiotensin system (RAS) could be affected by gender and dietary regime. We hypothesized that male rats will be more susceptible to activation of RAS in the heart and aorta, as a response to a fructose-rich diet (FRD).

Materials And Methods: Both male and female Wistar rats were given a 10% (w/v) fructose solution for 9 weeks.

Low intensity exercise prevents disturbances in rat cardiac insulin signaling and endothelial nitric oxide synthase induced by high fructose diet.

Increase in fructose consumption together with decrease in physical activity contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome and consequently cardiovascular diseases. The current study examined the preventive role of exercise on defects in cardiac insulin signaling and function of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in fructose fed rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into control, sedentary fructose (received 10% fructose for 9 weeks) and exercise fructose (additionally exposed to low intensity exercise) groups.

Cardiac fatty acid uptake and metabolism in the rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an altered plasma lipid profile and increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac pathology in PCOS involve changes in expression and subcellular localization of several key proteins involved in cardiac lipid transport and metabolism, such as fatty acid transporter CD36, lipin 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 (PGC1), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1). We used the animal model of PCOS obtained by treating female rats with dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Gender differences in the expression and cellular localization of lipin 1 in the hearts of fructose-fed rats.

To give new insight to alterations of cardiac lipid metabolism accompanied by a fructose-rich diet (FRD), rats of both sexes were exposed to 10 % fructose in drinking water during 9 weeks. The protein level and subcellular localization of the main regulators of cardiac lipid metabolism, such as lipin 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1α), carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPTI), and CD36 were studied. Caloric intake in fructose-fed rats (FFR) of both sexes was increased.