Broccoli Sprouts Promote Sex-Dependent Cardiometabolic Health and Longevity in Long-Evans Rats.
Ronan M N NobleForough JahandidehEdward A ArmstrongStephane L BourqueJerome Y YagerPublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2022)
Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds are potential candidates to prevent age-related chronic diseases. Broccoli sprouts (BrSp) are a rich source of sulforaphane-a bioactive metabolite known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We tested the effect of chronic BrSp feeding on age-related decline in cardiometabolic health and lifespan in rats. Male and female Long-Evans rats were fed a control diet with or without dried BrSp (300 mg/kg body weight, 3 times per week) from 4 months of age until death. Body weight, body composition, blood pressure, heart function, and glucose and insulin tolerance were measured at 10, 16, 20, and 22 months of age. Behavioral traits were also examined at 18 months of age. BrSp feeding prolonged life span in females, whereas in males the positive effects on longevity were more pronounced in a subgroup of males (last 25% of survivors). Despite having modest effects on behavior, BrSp profoundly affected cardiometabolic parameters in a sex-dependent manner. BrSp-fed females had a lower body weight and visceral adiposity while BrSp-fed males exhibited improved glucose tolerance and reduced blood pressure when compared to their control counterparts. These findings highlight the sex-dependent benefits of BrSp on improving longevity and delaying cardiometabolic decline associated with aging in rats.
Keyphrases
- body weight
- body composition
- anti inflammatory
- blood pressure
- healthcare
- public health
- type diabetes
- mental health
- heart failure
- physical activity
- resistance training
- oxidative stress
- insulin resistance
- young adults
- heart rate
- gene expression
- clinical trial
- adipose tissue
- health promotion
- skeletal muscle
- human health
- risk assessment
- double blind
- drug induced