Intense Caloric Restriction from Birth Protects the Heart Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Reduces Reactive Oxygen Species in Ovariectomized Rats

Overview

Journal Antioxidants (Basel)

Date 2025 Feb 26

PMID 40002357

Authors

Vinicius Lopes Cantuaria

Cintia Maria Rodrigues

Isabella Rocha Dias

Vinicius de Oliveira Ottone

Bruna Oliveira Costa

Lourdes Fernanda Godinho

Gabriela Silva

Marco Antonio Alves Schetino

Etel Rocha-Vieira

Marco Fabricio Dias-Peixoto

Kinulpe Honorato-Sampaio

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study investigates the cardioprotective effects of intense caloric restriction (ICR) from birth in ovariectomized rats, a model of estrogen deficiency mimicking menopause. Our findings demonstrate that ICR significantly improved both basal and post-ischemic cardiac function, even in the absence of estrogens. The restricted animals exhibited enhanced cardiac contractility and relaxation, particularly after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, with superior functional recovery compared to control groups. Notably, ICR reduced key cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure, heart rate, and adiposity, while improving glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Additionally, while mitochondrial biogenesis remained unaffected, ICR preserved mitochondrial integrity by reducing the number of damaged mitochondria. This was linked to a reduction in oxidative stress, as evidenced by lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the hearts of restricted animals. These results suggest that ICR offers a protective effect against cardiovascular dysfunction induced by estrogen depletion, potentially through enhanced antioxidant defenses and mitochondrial protection.

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