zearalenol and Arteriosclerosis

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is one of the most challenging issues women and their physicians have to face. Clinical and epidemiological studies have provided conflicting data regarding the cardiovascular benefit versus risk in women using ERT. Although ERT may improve several risk factors of coronary heart disease such as favorable changes in lipid profile, an associated increased incidence of uterine and breast tumors has jeopardized the clinical use of ERT. We reported here that the phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol is effective against atherosclerotic development without overt growth-promoting effects in the uterus compared to estrogen. These results suggest clinical potential of this phytoestrogen as a "safe estrogen" with less risk of tumorogenesis.

Topics: Arteriosclerosis; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Humans; Phytoestrogens; Zeranol

Although favorable effects of estrogen replacement therapy on atherosclerosis have been recognized, the benefit versus risk of estrogen replacement on overall cardio- vascular health remains controversial. The main adverse effect jeopardizing the clinical usage of estrogen is the increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Zearalenone (ZEN) is a universal endogenous hormone possessing estrogen-like effects and facilitating plant growth. alpha-Zearalanol (alpha-ZAL), a new phytoestrogen, is a reductive product of ZEN. Our preliminary evidence suggested that alpha-ZAL is anti-atherosclerotic. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of alpha-ZAL on atherosclerotic formation and serum lipid profile. Adult female nulliparous rabbits were ovariectomized or sham-operated and fed a high-cholesterol diet with different doses of alpha-ZAL or 17beta-estradiol for 12 wk. The aortic intimal atherosclerotic plaque was significantly larger in the cholesterol-fed group compared to control and sham groups. alpha-ZAL and 17beta-estradiol treatments significantly reduced plaque formation and improved serum profile of lipid (TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C) and lipoprotein (ApoAl and ApoB). Both alpha-ZAL and 17beta-estradiol reconciled ovariectomy-induced uterine atrophy, although alpha-ZAL was significantly less potent than 17beta-estradiol in stimulating uterine growth. Our findings indicate that the phytoestrogen alpha-ZAL has an important anti-atherogenic property, analogous to that of estrogen.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Apolipoprotein A-I; Apolipoproteins B; Arteriosclerosis; Cholesterol; Diet, Atherogenic; Estradiol; Estrogens; Female; Histocytochemistry; Lipids; Organ Size; Ovariectomy; Phytoestrogens; Rabbits; Triglycerides; Uterus; Zeranol