Vitamin A-deficient diet accelerated atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E(-/-) mice and dietary β-carotene prevents this consequence

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:758723. doi: 10.1155/2015/758723. Epub 2015 Feb 23.

Abstract

Vitamin A is involved in regulation of glucose concentrations, lipid metabolism, and inflammation, which are major risk factors for atherogenesis. However, the effect of vitamin A deficiency on atherogenesis has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to examine whether vitamin A deficiency accelerates atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (apoE(-/-)). ApoE(-/-) mice were allocated into the following groups: control, fed vitamin A-containing chow diet; BC, fed chow diet fortified with Dunaliella powder containing βc isomers; VAD, fed vitamin A-deficient diet; and VAD-BC group, fed vitamin A-deficient diet fortified with a Dunaliella powder. Following 15 weeks of treatment, liver retinol concentration had decreased significantly in the VAD group to about 30% that of control group. Vitamin A-deficient diet significantly increased both plasma cholesterol concentrations and the atherosclerotic lesion area at the aortic sinus (+61%) compared to the control group. Dietary βc fortification inhibited the elevation in plasma cholesterol and retarded atherogenesis in mice fed the vitamin A-deficient diet. The results imply that dietary vitamin A deficiency should be examined as a risk factor for atherosclerosis and that dietary βc, as a sole source of retinoids, can compensate for vitamin A deficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / deficiency*
  • Atherosclerosis / blood
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Atherosclerosis / etiology*
  • Atherosclerosis / prevention & control
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin A / metabolism*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / complications*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / pathology
  • beta Carotene / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • beta Carotene
  • Vitamin A
  • Cholesterol