Antihyperlipidemic potential of dietary supplementation with carnosine in high-fat diet-fed rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the hypolipidemic effects of carnosine and a commercial carnosine supplement on lipid status, liver and kidney function, and inflammation associated with dyslipidemia in rats with high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on adult male Wistar rats, divided in -to control and experimental groups. Animals were kept in standard laboratory conditions and according to groups were treated with saline, carnosine, carnosine dietary supplement, sim-vastatin, and their combinations. All substances were prepared fresh every day and used by oral gavage.RESULTS: Treatment with a carnosine-based supplement significantly improved total and LDL cholesterol levels in serum, especially in the combination with simvastatin as a conventional drug in dyslipidemia treatment. The effect of carnosine on the metabolism of triglycerides was not as evident as in the case of cholesterol. Nevertheless, the values of the atherogenic index showed that the combinations of carnosine and carnosine supplement with simvastatin were the most effective in lowering this comprehensive lipid index. Dietary carnosine supplementation resulted also in anti-inflam- matory effects, as demonstrated by immunohis-tochemical analyses. Besides, the good safety profile of carnosine in terms of its effect on liver and kidney functions was also confirmed.CONCLUSIONS: The use of carnosine supplements in preventing and/or treatment of metabolic disorders requires further investigations into the mechanisms of action and potential interactions with conventional therapy.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the hypolipidemic effects of carnosine and a commercial carnosine supplement on lipid status, liver and kidney function, and inflammation associated with dyslipidemia in rats. The results showed that carnosine supplementation significantly improved total and LDL cholesterol levels in serum, especially when combined with simvastatin. Carnosine also had anti-inflammatory effects and showed a good safety profile in terms of liver and kidney functions.