Lingonberry supplementation improves hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet

Elevated levels of lipids in the circulation facilitate the development of atherosclerosis, a major risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Altered food patterns and physical inactivity are among the primary causes of hyperlipidemia. Various treatments are employed to reduce hyperlipidemia to improve cardiovascular function. Dietary intervention is one of the commonly used strategies for prevention of CVD. Our previous study reported that anthocyanin-rich Manitoba lingonberry extract could protect cardiomyocytes against ischemia-reperfusion induced apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the impact of lingonberry supplementation on attenuating CVD risk induced by chronic consumption of high-fat diet. Mice (C57BL/6J) were fed for 12 weeks a control diet (10% kcal fat), a high-fat diet (60% kcal fat), or a high-fat diet supplemented with lingonberry extract. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured to assess liver function. Liver histology was examined by hemotoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Oil-Red-O staining. The cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels in the plasma and liver were determined. High-fat diet feeding for 12 weeks caused a significant increase in body weight gain, hepatic lipid accumulation (fatty liver), and increased plasma lipid levels (total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol). Conversely, mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with lingonberry extract displayed improved histological integrity of the liver, less hepatic lipid accumulation, decreased levels of lipids, ALT and AST in the plasma. These findings indicate that chronic consumption of high-fat diet causes hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome like phenotype in a mouse model. Dietary supplementation of lingonberry extract can improve plasma and liver lipid profiles, which may account for the protective effect of dietary berry compounds for CVD.

Funding source: This work was supported, in part, by NSERC and AAFC.