Journals Information
International Journal of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 2(3), pp. 29 - 34
DOI: 10.13189/ijccd.2014.020301
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Implications of a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet on Heart Size in a Murine Model
Katelin Gresty 1, Celena Scheede-Bergdahl 2, Andreas Bergdahl 1,*
1 Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montreal, H4B 1R6, Qc, Canada
2 Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, H2W 1S4, Qc, Canada
ABSTRACT
Despite growing popularity of carbohydrate restricted diets, consequences of long term use remain unknown. The current study evaluated the effects of low carbohydrate/high fat (LCHF) diets on heart size and cardiac glycogen content in young mice. Young mice (age 21 d, n = 24) and mature mice (age 84 d, n = 18) were placed on either a LCHF, a western (WD) or a control diet for 12 weeks. Upon completion of the dietary intervention, heart wet weights were measured to compute the weight-to-tibia length ratio. Sections of cardiac tissue were stained with periodic acid and Schiff reagent to visualize glycogen. Mice following the LCHF diet displayed smaller heart weight-to-tibia length ratio when compared to controls. The trend was observed in both young (p = 0.012) and mature (p = 0.024) mice. Cardiac tissue from mice consuming the LCHF diet had a reduced percentage of total area stained positive for glycogen when compared to mice following the WD diet (p = 0.016). This study shows that a LCHF diet reduces heart weight in young and mature mice. Alterations in intercellular cardiac glycogen content may contribute to differences observed in heart weight. LCHF diets should be recommended with caution as long term effects on the heart are unknown.
KEYWORDS
Heart, Cardiomyocytes, Nutrition, Glycogen stores, Remodeling, Young vs. Old, Mice
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Katelin Gresty , Celena Scheede-Bergdahl , Andreas Bergdahl , "Implications of a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet on Heart Size in a Murine Model," International Journal of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 29 - 34, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/ijccd.2014.020301.
(b). APA Format:
Katelin Gresty , Celena Scheede-Bergdahl , Andreas Bergdahl (2014). Implications of a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet on Heart Size in a Murine Model. International Journal of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease(CEASE PUBLICATION), 2(3), 29 - 34. DOI: 10.13189/ijccd.2014.020301.