Prevention of preatheromatous lesions in sand rats by treatment with a nutritional supplement
Marquié, G.; Menouar, T.; Pieraggi, M.T.; Dousset, N.; Bennani, N.
Arzneimittel-Forschung 46(6): 610-614
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4172 PMID: 8767352 Document Number: 468205
Sand rats fed a hypercholesterolaemic diet containing 0.01% of the the anti-thyroid agent 2-mercapto-1-imidazole develop preatheromatous lesions similar to those found in humans, in addition to obesity and insulin resistance. The effects of a nutritional supplement rich in essential fatty acids and garlic extract (Arterodiet) on the appearance and evolution of the lesions were studied. Treatment with this nutritional supplement significantly decreased circulating triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels but did not alter plasma insulin or glucose levels. Intra-arterial cholesterol levels were also decreased by the treatment which resulted in a normalisation of the atherosclerotic lesions in these animals.