The Impact of the High-Fructose Corn Syrup on Cardiac Damage via SIRT1/PGC1-α Pathway: Potential Ameliorative Effect of Selenium

• Published in: Biological trace element research Vol. 202; no. 11; pp. 5166 - 5176
• Main Authors: İlhan, İlter, Ascı, Halil, Buyukbayram, Halil İbrahim, Imeci, Orhan Berk, Sevuk, Mehmet Abdulkadir, Erol, Zeki, Aksoy, Fatih, Milletsever, Adem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.11.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Albinism; albino; Animals; Antioxidants; Aorta; Apoptosis; BAX protein; Bcl-2 protein; Bcl-x protein; Biochemistry; Biological stress; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Caspase-3; Consumption; Corn; Corn syrup; Damage; Dietary supplements; Fructose; Gene expression; genes; Genetic analysis; Growth factors; Health risks; Heart; high fructose corn syrup; High Fructose Corn Syrup - adverse effects; Histopathology; immunohistochemistry; inflammation; Life Sciences; Lymphocytes B; Lymphoma; Male; males; Necrosis; Nutrition; Oncology; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha - genetics; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha - metabolism; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Selenium; Selenium - pharmacology; SIRT1 protein; Sirtuin 1 - metabolism; Syrup; Toxicity; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Vascular endothelial growth factor; vascular endothelial growth factors; PGC1-α; Mitochondrial biogenesis; Selenium; SIRT1; HFCS
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04081-z
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been a subject of intense debate due to its association with cardiovascular risks. This study investigates the potential protective effects of selenium (Se) supplementation against cardiac damage induced by HFCS. Thirty-two male Wistar albino rats were divided into four equal groups: control, CS (20%-HFCS), CS with Se (20%-HFCS, 0.3 mg/kg-Se), and Se (0.3 mg/kg-Se) only. After a 6-week period, heart and aorta tissues were collected for histopathological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and genetic analyses. HFCS consumption led to severe cardiac pathologies, increased oxidative stress, and altered gene expressions associated with inflammation, apoptosis, and antioxidant defenses. In the CS group, pronounced oxidative stress within the cardiac tissue was concomitant with elevated Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) expression and diminished expressions of B-cell-lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1-α), and silenced information regulator 1 (SIRT1). Se supplementation mitigated these effects, showing protective properties. Immunohistochemical analysis supported these findings, demonstrating decreased expressions of caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-1β, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the CS + Se group compared to the CS group. The study suggests that Se supplementation exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects, potentially attenuating HFCS-induced cardiovascular toxicity. These findings highlight the importance of dietary considerations and selenium supplementation in mitigating cardiovascular risks associated with HFCS consumption.