Effects of hyperprotein diet on anxiety, haemodynamics and morphofunctional aspects of the heart of Wistar rats

Abstract

Abstract Anxiety is a mechanism preparatory to a response in situations of threat and danger, involving behavioural, affective and physiological factors. Protein‐based foods have a high concentration of amino acids which perform multiple functions, including in the biosynthesis of excitatory transmitters for the central nervous system. In recent years, adherence to high‐protein diets has been gaining ground in society, on the basis that it brings benefits to the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a high‐protein diet in a state of anxiety and to investigate morphofunctional cardiovascular effects of a high‐protein diet in Wistar rats. The experiment lasted 8 weeks and two groups of male rats were submitted to either a normoproteic or a hyperproteic diet. Anxiety was assessed using the plus maze test and cardiovascular morphofunctional aspects using transthoracic echocardiography and invasive measurements of femoral blood pressure. There was no statistically significant difference in the anxiety test, but the hyperproteic group was more agitated, with greater displacement during the test. Changes were found in systolic and end‐diastolic volume, left ventricular diameter in systole and heart rate, which were significantly lower in the hyperproteic group, and there was an increase in the thickness of the interventricular septum in diastole. The results showed no influence of the higher protein diet on the animals’ anxiety, body weight and haemodynamics.

Keywords

• anxiety
• heart
• high protein diet