Dietary onion ameliorates antioxidant defence, inflammatory response, and cardiovascular risk biomarkers in hypercholesterolemic Wistar rats

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of processed onion in hypercholesterolemic male Wistar rats. Rodents were fed three diets: control-C, high-cholesterol-HC, and high-cholesterol enriched with onion-HCO for 7 weeks. Antioxidant enzymes were measured in erythrocytes and liver. Plasma was used for the analysis of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, among other cardiovascular parameters. Caecum and faeces were analysed to evaluate changes produced on microflora. Rats fed the HCO diet showed a significant increase in SOD, CAT and GPx activities compared with the HC group. Plasma inflammatory parameters, namely IL-10, MCP-1, VEGF, s-ICAM-1, sE-selectin, PAI-1, v-WF, and TIMP-1 were significantly increased in the HC group and onion enrichment modulated this increment. The HCO diet reduced the presence of sulphite-reducing Clostridium spp. These results suggest an improvement on the antioxidant and antiinflammatory response as well as on the cardiovascular risk biomarkers promoted by the onion ingredient.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [AGL2010-15910 (subprogram ALI)] and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL2013-46326-R).Peer Reviewe