Abstract P081: Effect of Exercise and Quercetin on Atherosclerotic Plaque and Lipoprotein Metabolism

Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the large arteries; mostly attributed to oxidative stress and inflammation. This results in arterial heart disease, and stroke. Animal studies using a variety of antioxidants strongly suggest that antioxidants may protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD). Paradoxically, exercise which induces a severe oxidative stress resulting in the depletion of plasma and tissue antioxidants is an important deterrent of CVD. We propose that quercetin a flavonoid will have profound effects on the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis if combined with exercise by inhibiting lipids oxidation, promoting clearance and improving the acute exercise induced oxidative stress resulting in lowering cholesterol, artery lipids deposition and plaque regression. This study tested the possible beneficial effects of the combined exercise and quercetin on modulators of oxidation and inflammation in C57BL6 LDL –/– mice fed atherogenic diet. 40 mice were divided into four groups (10 each). These are: Control mice, left untreated; quercetin group, orally supplied with 100 ug/day of quercetin; exercise group, exercised in a treadmill for 30 minutes, 15 m /min; and the exercise and quercetin group which received quercetin and exercise dose similar to the respective groups. All animals were on atherogenic diet. The treatments were provided 5 days/week for 30 days. At the end of the month of treatment, mice were sacrificed, and atherosclerotic lesions in aorta were quantified. Liver, aorta and adipose tissue gene expressions for genes associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and lipoproteins were analyzed. The above figure shows the differences in atherosclerotic plaque formations between groups. However in addition to the changes seen between the groups as the result of quercetin and exercise treatment; one of the most Intriguing findings, is the significant (P<0.001) drop in mice body weigh associated with the combined quercetin and exercise treatment compared to control.