Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacon) root ameliorates cardiac remodeling in an animal model of obesity

GRANDE M.V.; SÁNCHEZ S. S.; HONORE S.M.

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Congreso; LVII SAIB Meeting - XVI SAMIGE Meeting; 2021

SAIB-SAMIGE

Cardiac remodeling is defined by molecular, cellular, and interstitial changes. These alterations are triggered by cardiac overload, neurohormonal activation, cardiac injury, or other factors such as a high-calorie diet, where the heart initially tries to adapt to new conditions by systemic compensation and myocardial hypertrophy. At present, there is great interest in natural products of plant origin to reduce the metabolic complications of obesity and its comorbidities. Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) is an Andean cultivated tuber that is characterized by its low caloric value and high fiber content, being suitable for consumption by obese individuals. In this study, the effects of yacon roots, a natural source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and phenolic compounds, on the heart in an animal model of obesity were investigated. Male Wistar rats were fed a standard diet (CD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks and then divided into three groups: CD, HFD, HFD plus yacon root flour (680 mg FOS/kg b.w., HFDY) and HFD plus ezetimibe (0.14 mg/kg b.w., HFDE) during 8 weeks. Regular ingestion of yacon significantly (p