Effects of Selected Antioxidants on Atherosclerosis in Hyperlipidemic Wistar Rats

The interplay of hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in atherosclerosis has been fairly established by previous studies. There remains however, paucity of data in this environment on the direct effects of antioxidants on atherosclerosis. This study therefore aimed at determining the protective effects of EDTA, vitamin C and Vitamin E on atherosclerosis in diet induced heperlipidemic wister rats.

Thirty Wister rats were investigated in this study. The rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6). The control group was fed with growers mash and water only while group II-V were induced with hyperlipidemic diet for ten weeks. In addition to the hyperlipidemic diet; group III received 1 g/kg body weight of EDTA, group IV received 1 g/kg body weight of vitamin C, group V received 1 g/kg body weight of vitamin E, and group VI received EDTA, vitamin C and E. The group’s treatments were orally for two weeks. C-reactive protein, Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Total calcium and Total antioxidant status were analyzed using standard methods after the treatments.

The study showed significant effect in the use of EDTA, Vitamin C and Vitamin E in the treatment of atherosclerosis in rats which could be due to their antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. Therefore the combinations EDTA, vitamin C and vitamin E appear greatly protective against atherosclerosis.