(−)-Epicatechin administration and exercising skeletal muscle vascular control and microvascular oxygenation in healthy rats

Copp, Steven W.; White, Michael; Hirai, Daniel M.; Ferguson, Scott K.; Holdsworth, Clark; Sims, Gabrielle E.; Poole, David C.; Musch, Timothy I.

doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00714.2012

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…These results agree with most of the human studies considering cocoa polyphenols [28]. With regard to preclinical studies, the available evidence is quite controversial: some studies reported improvements [7,52,53], and others revealed no changes [8] or even a decrease in exercise performance after dietary interventions with cocoa or its isolated polyphenols [54]. Future studies may clarify how the antioxidant properties of cocoa and cocoa fiber, by means of preventing the overproduction of ROS, affect exercise performance in a chronic manner.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…The predominant catechin monomer found in cocoa is (-)-epicatechin [6], and given its high abundance, it is believed that it could play an essential role in the beneficial effects of cocoa. For this reason, several authors have focused their attention on the isolated effect of this catechin on exercise performance [7], muscle oxygenation [8], and cytokine production [9], among others [10]. However, it is important to consider that cocoa also contains other bioactive compounds, such as dietary fiber and methylxanthines, which may contribute to cocoa's beneficial effects on health and particularly on the immune system [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Protective Effect of a Cocoa-Enriched Diet on Oxidative Stress Induced by Intensive Acute Exercise in Rats

et al. 2022

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Intensive acute exercise can induce oxidative stress, leading to muscle damage and immune function impairment. Cocoa diet could prevent this oxidative stress and its consequences on immunity. Our aim was to assess the effect of a cocoa-enriched diet on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by peritoneal macrophages, blood immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, leukocyte counts, and the physical performance of rats submitted to an intensive acute exercise, as well as to elucidate the involvement of cocoa fiber in such effects. For this purpose, Wistar rats were fed either a standard diet, i.e., a diet containing 10% cocoa (C10), or a diet containing 5% cocoa fiber (CF) for 25 days. Then, half of the rats of each diet ran on a treadmill until exhaustion, and 16 h later, the samples were obtained. Both C10 and CF diets significantly prevented the increase in ROS production. However, neither the cocoa diet or the cocoa fiber-enriched diet prevented the decrease in serum IgG induced by acute exercise. Therefore, although the cocoa-enriched diet was able to prevent the excessive oxidative stress induced by intensive exercise, this was not enough to avoid the immune function impairment due to exercise.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protective Effect of a Cocoa-Enriched Diet on Oxidative Stress Induced by Intensive Acute Exercise in Rats

et al. 2022

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“…Focusing on exercise performance, the cocoa diet did not improve it, which agrees with most of the human studies using cocoa polyphenols ( 25 ). Even so, some preclinical studies have reported that (–)-epicatechin and (–)-epicatechingallate, both flavanols present in cocoa, exert ergogenic effects in rodents ( 41 – 43 ), while others reported no changes ( 44 ) or even a decrease in time-to-exhaustion after a 6-month dietary intervention ( 45 ). The controversy in these results may be due to the dosage of cocoa or its polyphenol content, as well as the exercise protocol applied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cocoa Diet Can Partially Attenuate the Alterations in Microbiota and Mucosal Immunity Induced by a Single Session of Intensive Exercise in Rats

et al. 2022

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BackgroundFollowing intensive sports events, a higher rate of upper respiratory tract infections and the appearance of gastrointestinal symptomatology have been reported. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a cocoa-enriched diet on the cecal microbiota and mucosal immune system of rats submitted to high-intensity acute exercise, as well as to elucidate the involvement of cocoa fiber in such effects.MethodsWistar rats were fed either a standard diet, a diet containing 10% cocoa providing 5% fiber and a diet containing only 5% cocoa fiber. After 25 days, half of the rats of each diet performed an exhaustion running test. Sixteen hours later, samples were obtained to assess, among others, the cecal microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) composition, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and Peyer’s patches (PPs) lymphocyte composition, and immunoglobulin (Ig) content in salivary glands.ResultsThe intake of cocoa, partially due to its fiber content, improved the SCFA production, prevented some changes in PPs and in MLNs lymphocyte composition and also decreased the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Cocoa diet, contrary to cocoa fiber, did not prevent the lower salivary IgM induced by exercise.ConclusionA cocoa dietary intake can partially attenuate the alterations in microbiota and mucosal immunity induced by a single session of intensive exercise.

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“…Treadmill exercise capacity has been assessed in animal models of heart failure (48, 49), diabetes (50), aging (51,52) and skeletal muscle pathophysiology (53)(54)(55)(56). Motorised rodent treadmills have been used in sepsis models though as a means of determining the impact of endurance training on outcomes (57)(58)(59)(60).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detailed Characterization of a Long-Term Rodent Model of Critical Illness and Recovery

Hill

Saeed

Phadke

et al. 2015

Critical Care Medicine

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Objective: To characterize a long-term model of recovery from critical illness, with particular emphasis on cardiorespiratory, metabolic and muscle function Design: Randomized controlled animal study Setting: University research laboratory Subjects: Male Wistar ratsInterventions: Intraperitoneal injection of the fungal cell wall constituent, zymosan or n-saline. Measurements and Main Results:Following intervention, rats were followed for up to two weeks.Animals with zymosan peritonitis reached a clinical and biochemical nadir on day 2. Initial reductions were seen in body weight, total body protein and fat, and muscle mass. Leg muscle fiber diameter remained subnormal at 14 days with evidence of persisting myonecrosis, even though gene expression of regulators of muscle mass (e.g. MAFbx, MURF1, myostatin) had peaked on days 2-4 but had normalized by Day 7. Treadmill exercise capacity, forelimb grip strength and in vivo maximum tetanic force were also reduced. Food intake was minimal until Day 4 but increased thereafter. This did not relate to appetite hormone levels with early (6h) rises in plasma insulin and leptin followed by persisting subnormal levels; ghrelin levels did not change. Serum IL-6 level peaked at 6h but had normalized by Day 2 whereas IL-10 remained persistently elevated and HDL cholesterol persistently depressed. There was an early myocardial depression and rise in core temperature, yet reduced oxygen consumption and respiratory exchange ratio with a loss of diurnal rhythmicity that showed a gradual but incomplete recovery by Day 7.Conclusions: This detailed physiological, metabolic, hormonal, functional and histological muscle characterization of a model of critical illness and recovery reproduces many of the findings reported in human critical illness. It can be used to assess putative therapies that may attenuate loss, or enhance recovery, of muscle mass and function.

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(−)-Epicatechin administration and exercising skeletal muscle vascular control and microvascular oxygenation in healthy rats

Cited by 8 publications

References 42 publications

Protective Effect of a Cocoa-Enriched Diet on Oxidative Stress Induced by Intensive Acute Exercise in Rats

Protective Effect of a Cocoa-Enriched Diet on Oxidative Stress Induced by Intensive Acute Exercise in Rats

A Cocoa Diet Can Partially Attenuate the Alterations in Microbiota and Mucosal Immunity Induced by a Single Session of Intensive Exercise in Rats

Detailed Characterization of a Long-Term Rodent Model of Critical Illness and Recovery

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