Letrozole ameliorates fructose-induced hyperlipidaemia and uric acid accumulation in male Wistar rats
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Date
2023
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Abstract
Introduction: High fructose consumption is commonly associated with increased risk of
cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, cardiovascular effects of aromatase inhibitors remain
unresolved, although they are effective in the treatment of breast cancer. Thus, this study
investigated the effect of letrozole on CVD indicators in Wistar rats exposed to high fructose
intake.
Methods: Twenty male rats were randomly placed in four groups (n=5/group): control
(distilled water), fructose (10% fructose in drinking water), letrozole (1mg/kg) and fructose+
letrozole. After 21-day exposure, fasting blood glucose was taken and the rats were sacrificed,
while blood and heart were collected and prepared for biochemical analyses.
Results: Our data showed that 10% fructose induced hyperglycaemia and lipid peroxidation.
It reduced serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated serum total cholesterol (TC),
triglycerides and free fatty acid but did not alter serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
significantly, when compared with the control. Furthermore, high fructose-intake increased
serum or cardiac adenosine deaminase (ADA), xanthine oxidase and uric acid. Our findings
revealed that letrozole, when taken with 10% fructose, attenuated all the observed fructose
induced alterations. However, when administered alone, letrozole elevated serum TC as well
as cardiac malondialdehyde and ADA.
Conclusion: This study showed that high fructose-intake promoted the risk of CVDs in rats,
while administration of letrozole attenuated fructose effects. Hence, letrozole may serve as a
potential adjuvant therapy for attenuating CVD risk. However, further pre-clinical and clinical
f
indings are necessary to thoroughly investigate the cardiometabolic effects of letrozole.