39 research outputs found
The effect of dietary hempseed on atherogenesis and contractile function in aortae from hypercholesterolemic rabbits
Hempseed contains a unique combination of both omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In other
studies, supplementation of the diet with selected polyunsaturated fatty acids has induced significant, beneficial
cardiovascular effects. The purpose of the present study is to determine if hempseed ingestion over an 8-week period
may provide protection to rabbits against the deleterious effects associated with dietary cholesterol supplementation.
Methods:
Male albino New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into one of six groups: the control diet
(RG), the control diet then supplemented with (wt/wt) 5% coconut oil (CO), or 10% hempseed (HP), or 0.5%
cholesterol (OL), or with both 10% hempseed and 0.5% cholesterol (OLHP) or with 10% hempseed that was
partially delipidated (SC). Each day the rabbits were fed 125 grams of the appropriate diet over an 8-week period.
Fatty acid analysis of tissue and diets was determined using gas chromatography. Vascular function testing of aortic
rings was done
in order to
assess
the response of the tissue to both contraction and relaxation stimuli.
Aortic
atherosclerotic plaque was quantified.
Results:
Cholesterol supplementation to the diet induced significant aortic plaque development. Dietary hempseed
did not generate protection. The aorta obtained from rabbits fed the cholesterol-supplemented chow also exhibited
defects in their contractile responses to KCl and norepinephrine and in relaxation to sodium nitroprusside (SNP).
The addition of hempseed to this diet did not generate any improvement in contractile responses but had a modest
protective effect on the cholesterol-induced defects in SNP-induced relaxation.
Conclusions:
Our data demonstrate that dietary hempseed provides mildly beneficial effects against contractile
dysfunction associated with atherosclerotic vessels in the cholesterol-fed rabbit