Combined effects of niacin and chromium treatment on heart of hyperlipidemic rats

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the combination of niacin and chromium(III)-chloride on heart glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, serum paraoxonase (PON), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities and protein carbonyl contents (PCC) of hyperlipidemic rats. In this study, female Swiss albino rats were used. They were divided into four groups. The animals of the first group (group 1) were fed with pellet chow. The rats (group 11) were fed with a lipogenic diet consisting of 2% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid and 20% sunflower oil added to the pellet chow, and given 3% alcoholic water for 60 days. The rats (group 111) were fed with the same lipogenic diet and treated by gavage technique with CrCl(3) 6H(2)O to a dose of 250 mu g/kg and 100 mg/kg niacin for 45 days, 15 days after experimental animals were done hyperlipidemic. Group IV was fed with pellet chow and treated with 250 mu g/kg CrCl(3) 6H(2)O and 100 mg/kg niacin for 45 days. On the 60th day, the heart tissue and blood samples were taken from animals. As a result, heart LPO, serum GGT activity and serum PCC were increased; serum PON activity and heart GSH levels were decreased in hyperlipidemic rats. Treatment with combined niacin and chromium reversed these effects. In conclusion, the combined treatment with niacin and chromium might induce a protective effect on heart tissue.