The Short-term Influence of a Mediterranean-type Diet and Mild Exercise with and without Red Wine on Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is a target for the dietary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The effect of adding redwine to the diet has not been fully investigated. This study examined whether a Mediterranean-type dietcomplemented with red wine and mild exercise had an impact on patients with the metabolic syndrome in the shortterm. Twelve patients with the metabolic syndrome consumed a Mediterranean-type diet for four weeks withoutand with red wine respectively and performed mild exercise. We implemented the diagnostic criteria for themetabolic syndrome as formulated by the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) in 2001. The patients were alsoscreened for multiple genetic markers implicated in cardiovascular disease. Weight, body mass index, abdominalcircumference and blood pressure were measured, as well as various biochemical, haematological andinflammatory markers. There was a significant decrease in the body weight (p = 0.04) and an increase in ORACvalue (p = 0.035) after the dietary intervention. A significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.045) wasobserved. Red wine had no additional benefits. Although diet reduced weight and blood pressure, the lipoproteinand pro-coagulant profiles of patients with the metabolic syndrome were not affected in this study. These findingsmay be explained partly by the diverse genetic profile identified among the study participants, as 50% hadmutations involved in lipid metabolism that may influence the response to dietary intervention and alcoholconsumption

Erythropoietin induces neovascularization and improves cardiac function in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction

ObjectivesWe assessed the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment in a rat model of post-myocardial infarction (MI) heart failure.BackgroundErythropoietin, traditionally known as a hematopoietic hormone, has been linked to neovascularization. Whereas administration of EPO acutely after MI reduces infarct size and improves cardiac function, its role in the failing heart is unknown.MethodsRats underwent coronary ligation or sham surgery. Rats with MI were randomly assigned to: untreated (MI), a single bolus of EPO immediately after MI induction (MI-EPO-early), EPO treatment immediately after MI and once every three weeks (MI-EPO-early+late), and EPO treatment starting three weeks after induction of MI, once every three weeks (MI-EPO-late). After nine weeks, hemodynamics, infarct size, myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms, myocyte hypertrophy, and capillary density were measured.ResultsErythropoietin treatment started immediately after MI (MI-EPO-early and MI-EPO-early+late) resulted in a 23% to 30% reduction in infarct size (p < 0.01) and, accordingly, hemodynamic improvement. Erythropoietin treatment, started three weeks after MI (MI-EPO-late), did not affect infarct size, but resulted in an improved cardiac performance, reflected by a 34% reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (p < 0.01), and 46% decrease in atrial natriuretic peptide levels (p < 0.05). The improved cardiac function was accompanied by an increased capillary density (p < 0.01), an increased capillary-to-myocyte ratio (p < 0.05), and a partial reversal of beta-MHC (p < 0.05) in all treated groups.ConclusionsIn addition to its effect on infarct size reduction, EPO treatment improves cardiac function in a rat model of post-MI heart failure. This observation may be explained by neovascularization, associated with an increased alpha-MHC expression