Association of Omnivorous and Vegetarian Diets With Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms in Men

Author(s)

Cinegaglia, Naiara ^[1] ; Acosta-Navarro, Julio ^[2] ; Rainho, Claudia ^[1] ; Antoniazzi, Luiza ^[2] ; Mattioli, Sarah ^[1] ; Pimentel, Caroline ^[3] ; Santos, Raul D. ^{[4, 2]} ; Sandrim, Valeria ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ IBB, Inst Biosci, UNESP, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Med Sch Hosp, Heart Inst InCor, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Paulista, Inst Hlth, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION; v. 9, n. 12 JUN 16 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidence that a vegetarian diet rich in antioxidants contributes to cardiovascular health are growing, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. HO-1 (heme-oxygenase-1), a marker of adaptive response, is protective against oxidative stress and has shown cardioprotective effects. Therefore, we evaluated circulating HO-1 levels and the effect of plasma from omnivorous and vegetarians in endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) on modulating NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2)/HO-1 and nitric oxide production. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 745 participants initially recruited, 44 omnivorous and 44 vegetarian men matched by age and absence of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases were included in this study. Circulating HO-1 was measured using ELISA and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with plasma from omnivorous and vegetarians. Higher circulating HO-1 concentrations were found in omnivorous compared with vegetarians. Plasma from omnivorous and not from vegetarians induced NRF2/HO-1 and nitric oxide production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and increased reactive oxygen species production and caspase activity after incubation with stressor stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that HO-1 induction in omnivorous may indicate a pro-oxidative status since HO-1 is activated under oxidative stress a state not seen in vegetarians. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/20669-8 - Comparison between vegetarian versus omnivorous diet patterns on the effect of NRF2 pathway activation on endothelial cells
• Grantee: Naiara da Costa Cinegaglia
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/20461-8 - Role of NRF2 and HO-1 in preeclampsia: polymorphisms, circulating factors and in vitro assays
• Grantee: Valeria Cristina Sandrim
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants