Quercetin Beneficial Role in the Homeostatic Variation of Certain Trace Elements in Dyslipidemic Mice

Abstract

Background: Quercetin's role in the homeostasis of certain trace elements in dyslipidemia induced in mice was assessed.

Methods: Forty BALB/c mice were allocated into 4 groups as follows: control; HFD, received fat diet; HFD + Q group, received HFD +500 mg/L quercetin; and blank control (Q)-normal food + 500 mg/L quercetin in drinking water.

Results: By analyzing the values of total proteins, albumins, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and the levels of several trace elements in blood and organs, we perceived a statistically significant increase ( ^∗∗ , p < 0.01) of TP, ALB, TC, TGE, and LDL-c. A nonsignificant decrease was ascertained to HDL-c value in the HFD and quercetin groups (p > 0.05). In the HFD group, all analyzed elements in the kidney and spleen increased, also Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Pb, and of B, Ba, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the heart increased, but furthermore, Ag, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Zn in blood, Ag and Zn in the liver, and Cd in the spleen decreased. In the HFD group who received quercetin, elements (except B) were decreased in kidney and liver, also increased Ag, Ba, Cr, Fe, Li, Ni, Zn in blood, but similarly, Ag, B, Ba, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Pb declined in the spleen and heart.

Conclusions: Results proved the quercetin beneficial role.

Figure 1

Levels of total proteins (TP) and albumin (ALB) in dyslipidemic mice and quercetin. Comparative to C group: ^∗, p < 0.05, ^∗∗, p < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗, p < 0.001; comparative to HFD group: #p < 0.05 and ##p < 0.01.

Figure 2

Dyslipidemic markers in mice receiving HFD and quercetin. Comparative to (C) ns-not significant; ^∗, p < 0.05, ^∗∗, p < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗, p < 0.001. Comparative to HFD: #p < 0.05 and ###p < 0.01. Comparative to HFD + Q: $ p < 0.055 and $$ p < 0.01.