Cardiac and Metabolic Impact of Functional Foods with Antioxidant Properties Based on Whey Derived Proteins Enriched with Hemp Seed Oil
Teresa Pasqua,
Carmine Rocca,
Francesca Romana Lupi,
Noemi Baldino,
Daniela Amelio,
Ortensia Ilaria Parisi,
Maria Concetta Granieri,
Anna De Bartolo,
Arturo Lauria,
Marco Dattilo,
Ida Daniela Perrotta,
Francesco Puoci,
Maria Carmela Cerra,
Domenico Gabriele,
Tommaso Angelone
Affiliations
Teresa Pasqua
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S. (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Carmine Rocca
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S. (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Francesca Romana Lupi
Laboratory of Rheology and Food Engineering, Department of Information, Modeling, Electronics and System Engineering (D.I.M.E.S.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Noemi Baldino
Laboratory of Rheology and Food Engineering, Department of Information, Modeling, Electronics and System Engineering (D.I.M.E.S.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Daniela Amelio
Laboratory of Organ and System Physiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Ortensia Ilaria Parisi
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Maria Concetta Granieri
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S. (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Anna De Bartolo
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S. (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Arturo Lauria
ASL San Marco Argentano (CS), Veterinary Medicine Section, 87018 San Marco Argentano (CS), Italy
Marco Dattilo
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S. (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Ida Daniela Perrotta
Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Department of Biology, E. and E.S. (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Francesco Puoci
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Maria Carmela Cerra
Laboratory of Organ and System Physiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Domenico Gabriele
Laboratory of Rheology and Food Engineering, Department of Information, Modeling, Electronics and System Engineering (D.I.M.E.S.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Tommaso Angelone
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Department of Biology, E. and E.S. (Di.B.E.S.T.), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
The impaired ability to feed properly, evident in oncologic, elderly, and dysphagic patients, may result in malnutrition and sarcopenia. Increasing the consumption of dietary proteins by functional foods and enriching their composition by adding beneficial nutrients may represent an adjuvant therapy. We aimed to evaluate the safety and the positive effects of a standard diet (SD) supplemented with whey-derived protein puddings (WDPP), with appropriate rheological properties, and hemp seed oil (HSO), rich in polyphenols. Rats were assigned to SD, WDPP, WDPP plus hemp seed oil (HSOP), and HSO supplemented diets for eight weeks. “Anthropometric”, metabolic, and biochemical variables, oxidative stress, tissue injury, liver histology, and cardiac susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion were analyzed. All the supplementations did not induce significant changes in biochemical and metabolic variables, also in relation to glucose tolerance, and livers did not undergo morphological alteration and injury. An improvement of cardiac post-ischemic function in the Langendorff perfused heart model and a reduction of infarct size were observed in WDPP and HSOP groups, thanks to their antioxidant effects and the activation of Akt- and AMPK-dependent protective pathways. Data suggest that (i) functional foods enriched with WDPP and HSOP may be used to approach malnutrition and sarcopenia successfully under disabling conditions, also conferring cardioprotection, and that (ii) adequate rheological properties could positively impact dysphagia-related problems.
