Experimental Medicine Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia-UFU, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Federal University of ABC, UFABC, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Exp Physiol. 2023 Jun;108(6):818-826. doi: 10.1113/EP090638. Epub 2023 Mar 29.
What is the central question of this study? The consumption of a high-protein diet has been associated with an anxiogenic factor that can influence anxiety and possible cardiovascular changes: does the consumption of a high-protein diet interfere with anxiety, haemodynamics and morphofunctional aspects of the heart of Wistar rats? What is the main finding and its importance? Our study showed that the high-protein diet did not interfere with anxiety and haemodynamics. The animals in the hyperproteic group showed positive heart adaptations characterized by less work and lower heart rate without impairing ejection fraction and systemic blood pressure.
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.
本研究的核心问题是什么？高蛋白饮食与一种焦虑因子有关，该因子可影响焦虑和可能的心血管变化：高蛋白饮食是否会干扰焦虑、血液动力学和 Wistar 大鼠心脏的形态功能？主要发现及其重要性是什么？我们的研究表明，高蛋白饮食不会干扰焦虑和血液动力学。高蛋白组的动物表现出积极的心脏适应，表现为工作量减少，心率降低，而不影响射血分数和全身血压。
焦虑是一种在威胁和危险情况下的反应机制，涉及行为、情感和生理因素。基于蛋白质的食物含有高浓度的氨基酸，这些氨基酸具有多种功能，包括中枢神经系统兴奋性递质的生物合成。近年来，高蛋白饮食在社会上越来越受欢迎，因为它对肌肉骨骼系统和心血管健康有益。本研究旨在研究高蛋白饮食对焦虑状态的影响，并研究高蛋白饮食对 Wistar 大鼠心血管形态功能的影响。实验持续 8 周，两组雄性大鼠分别接受正常蛋白饮食或高蛋白饮食。焦虑通过加迷宫试验进行评估，心血管形态功能通过经胸超声心动图和股动脉血压的侵入性测量进行评估。焦虑试验无统计学差异，但高蛋白组更激动，试验中位移更大。收缩期和舒张末期容积、收缩期左心室直径和心率发生变化，高蛋白组显著降低，舒张期室间隔厚度增加。结果表明，高蛋白饮食对动物的焦虑、体重和血液动力学没有影响。
