Inulin supplementation prevents high fructose diet-induced hypertension in rats

Background & aims: The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the potential. beneficial effect of supplementation with different inulin-type fructan fractions against common features of the metabolic syndrome in a rat model. of this syndrome (fructose-fed rat). Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups and the animals received for 4weeks either a semi-purified starch or fructose-based diet, or diets in which fructose was partially substituted with various fructans: 10 g/100 g of tong-chain inulin or oligofructose, or an oligofructose-enriched inulin. After this period, blood pressure was measured and samples of blood and tissues were collected for selected biochemical. analyses. Results: As compared to the starch-fed group, the fructose-fed rats presented: hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, increased susceptibility to heart peroxidation and renal damages. Long-chain inulin and oligofructose-enriched inulin supplementation prevented fructose induced elevated blood pressure, susceptibility to heart peroxidation and renal damages. All inulin-type fructans containing diets prevented fructose induced hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusions: These results suggest that supplementation with inulin-type fructans is efficient against fructose induced hypertension and that effects are most pronounced for tong-chain inulin and oligofructose-enriched inulin. We hypothesize that the anti-hypertensive effect of inulin could be explained by the reduction of the high fructose induced oxidative stress. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.