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BACKGROUND The effects of a dietary supplementation with the vegetable omega-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA) on cardiovascular homeostasis are unclear. In this context, it would be interesting to assess the effects of camelina oil. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of camelina oil in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS In a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study, treated essential hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome received during 6 months either cyclodextrin-complexed camelina oil containing ≈ 1.5 g ALA/day (n = 40), or an isocaloric placebo (n = 41), consisting in the same quantity of cyclodextrins and wheat starch. Anthropometric data, plasma lipids, glycemia, insulinemia, creatininemia, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and n-3, n-6 and n-9 fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes were measured. Peripheral and central blood pressures, arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness and brachial artery endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation and endothelium-independent dilatation were assessed. RESULTS Compared to placebo, camelina oil increased ALA (mean ± SD: 0 ± 0.04 vs. 0.08 ± 0.06%, P

International audience; Purpose The effect of manipulating the fatty acid profile of the diet over generations could affect the susceptibility to develop obesity and metabolic disorders. Although some acute effects were described, the impact of transgenerational continuous supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids on metabolic homeostasis and skeletal muscle metabolic flexibility during a nutritional stress is unknown. Methods We analyzed the effect of an obesogenic diet in mice after transgenerational supplementation with an omega-3 rich oil (mainly EPA) or a control oil. Young F3 animals received a high fat and high sucrose diet for 4 months. Whole-body biometric data were recorded and lipidomic/transcriptomic adaptations were explored in the skeletal muscle. Results F3 mice from the lineage supplemented with EPA gained less weight, fat mass, and exhibited better metabolic parameters after the obesogenic diet compared to mice from the control lineage. Transcriptomic exploration of skeletal muscle showed differential regulation of biological processes such as fibrosis, fatty acid catabolism, and inflammation between lineages. These adaptations were associated to subtle lipid remodeling of cellular membranes with an enrichment in phospholipids with omega 3 fatty acid in mice from the EPA lineage. Conclusion Transgenerational and continuous intake of EPA could help to reduce cardiovascular and metabolic risks related to an unbalanced diet by the modulation of insulin sensitivity, fatty acid metabolism, and fibrosis in skeletal muscle.

Insulin resistance decreases the ability of insulin to inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis, a key step in the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic alterations, fat accumulation, and fibrosis in the liver are closely related and contribute to the progression of comorbidities, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or cancer. Omega 3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), were identified as potent positive regulators of insulin sensitivity in vitro and in animal models. In the current study, we explored the effects of a transgenerational supplementation with EPA in mice exposed to an obesogenic diet on the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) and gene expression in the liver using high-throughput techniques. We implemented a comprehensive molecular systems biology approach, combining statistical tools, such as MicroRNA Master Regulator Analysis pipeline and Boolean modeling to integrate these biochemical processes. We demonstrated that EPA mediated molecular adaptations, leading to the inhibition of miR-34a-5p, a negative regulator of Irs2 as a master regulatory event leading to the inhibition of gluconeogenesis by insulin during the fasting&ndash, feeding transition. Omics data integration provided greater biological insight and a better understanding of the relationships between biological variables. Such an approach may be useful for deriving innovative data-driven hypotheses and for the discovery of molecular&ndash, biochemical mechanistic links.

It has been proven that dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 n-3 or EPA) protects the heart against the deleterious effects of sepsis in female rats. We do not know if this is the case for male rodents. In this case, the efficiency of other n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) remains to be determined in both female and male rats. This study aimed at (i) determining whether dietary EPA is cardioprotective in septic male rats, (ii) evaluating the influence of dietary &alpha, linolenic (C18:3 n-3 or ALA) on cardiac function during this pathology, and (iii) finding out the physiological and molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed effects. Sixty male rats were divided into three dietary groups. The animals were fed a diet deficient in n-3 PUFAs (DEF group), a diet enriched with ALA (ALA group) or a diet fortified with EPA (EPA group) for 6 weeks. Thereafter, each group was subdivided into 2 subgroups, one being subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and the other undergoing a fictive surgery. Cardiac function was determined in vivo and ex vivo. Several parameters related to the inflammation process and oxidative stress were determined. Finally, the fatty acid compositions of circulating lipids and cardiac phospholipids were evaluated. The results of the ex vivo situation indicated that sepsis triggered cardiac damage in the DEF group. Conversely, the ex vivo data indicated that dietary ALA and EPA were cardioprotective by resolving the inflammation process and decreasing the oxidative stress. However, the measurements of the cardiac function in the in vivo situation modulated these conclusions. Indeed, in the in vivo situation, sepsis deteriorated cardiac mechanical activity in the ALA group. This was suspected to be due to a restricted coronary flow which was related to a lack of cyclooxygenase substrates in membrane phospholipids. Finally, only EPA proved to be beneficial in sepsis. Its action necessitates both resolution of inflammation and increased coronary perfusion. In that sense, dietary ALA, which does not allow the accumulation of vasodilator precursors in membrane lipids, cannot be protective during the pathology.

[Epub ahead of print]; BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) induces major disturbances in plasma metabolome, reflecting abnormalities of several metabolic pathways. Recent evidences have demonstrated that the consumption of dairy products may protect from MetS, but the mechanisms remains unknown. The present study aimed at identify how the consumption of different types of dairy products could modify the changes in plasma metabolome during MetS. METHODS: In this observational study, we analyzed how the consumption of dairy products could modify the perturbations in the plasma metabolome induced by MetS in a sample of 298 participants (61 with MetS) from the French MONA LISA survey. Metabolomic profiling was analyzed with UPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS: Subjects with MetS exhibited major changes in plasma metabolome. Significant differences in plasma levels of branched chain amino acids, gamma-glutamyl amino acids, and metabolites from arginine and proline metabolism were observed between healthy control and Mets subjects. Plasma levels of many lipid species were increased with MetS (mono- and diacylglycerols, eicosanoids, lysophospholipids and lysoplasmalogens), with corresponding decreases in short chain fatty acids and plasmalogens. The consumption of dairy products, notably with a low fat content (milk and fresh dairy products), altered metabolite profiles in plasma from MetS subjects. Specifically, increasing consumption of dairy products promoted accumulation of plasma C15:0 fatty acid and was inversely associated to some circulating lysophospholipids, sphingolipids, gamma-glutamyl amino acids, leukotriene B4 and lysoplasmalogens. CONCLUSIONS: the consumption of low fat dairy products could mitigate some of the variations induced by MetS.

Part of special issue: Abstracts of the 41st ESPEN Congress, Krakow, Poland, 31 August–3 September, 2019; International audience; Rationale: Ectopic lipid deposition impairs muscle anabolic responseespecially during aging. We hypothesized that the anabolic efficiencyof dietary protein in skeletal muscle might be affected by high-fat diet.The objective of the study was to investigate muscle protein synthesisin response totwolevels of protein intake combined totwo levels of fatintake. Methods: Two groups of sixty adult and forty-nine old male Wistarrats were randomly divided into four groups: isocaloric standard diet (12% protein, 14% lipid, as STD12); isocaloric standard (high-protein)diet (25% protein, 14% lipid, STD25); hypercaloric high-fat (normal-protein) diet (12% protein, 45% lipid, HFD12); and hypercaloric high-fat (high-protein) diet (25% protein, 45% lipid, HFD25). The nutritionalintervention lasted 10 weeks. The fractional synthesis (FSR) andabsolute synthesis rates (ASR) of mixed muscle proteins werecalculated using isotopically labelled13C-Valine incorporation intibialis anterior (TA). Muscle lipid content was assessed usingchromatography method. Results: Rats in the high-fat diet groups self-limited their food intake,so that energy intake was not different among the groups. Regardlessof dietary intervention, TAweight was lower in old groups compared totheir adult counterparts (all p values Conclusions: Aging is characterized by reduced muscleweight despiteincreased FSR, suggesting specific alterations in the nutritionalregulation of muscle protein turnover. In isocaloric conditions, higherprotein intake modulates muscle lipid infiltration, without improvingage-related anabolic resistance in old rats fed a high-fat diet.

Diabetes is characterized by a high mortality rate which is often associated with heart failure. Green tea and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known to lessen some of the harmful impacts of diabetes and to exert cardio-protection. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of EPA, green tea extract (GTE), and a combination of both on the cardiac consequences of diabetes mellitus, induced in Wistar rats by injection of a low dose of streptozotocin (33 mg/kg) combined with a high fat diet. Cardiac mechanical function, coronary reactivity, and parameters of oxidative stress, inflammation, and energy metabolism were evaluated. In the context of diabetes, GTE alone limited several diabetes-related symptoms such as inflammation. It also slightly improved coronary reactivity and considerably enhanced lipid metabolism. EPA alone caused the rapid death of the animals, but this effect was negated by the addition of GTE in the diet. EPA and GTE combined enhanced coronary reactivity considerably more than GTE alone. In a context of significant oxidative stress such as during diabetes mellitus, EPA enrichment constitutes a risk factor for animal survival. It is essential to associate it with the antioxidants contained in GTE in order to decrease mortality rate and preserve cardiac function.

The authors acknowledge the staff from Auvergne University Experimental Animal Laboratory and Christophe Del’Homme, Philippe Denis, Anne Terisse-Lottier and Alexandre Teynie from the Experimental Animal Facility of the Human Nutrition Unit (INRA of Clermont-Ferrand) for their assistance throughout the animal protocol. We thank Celine Bobby for her help for TaqMan gene expression assays. We gratefully acknowledge financial support and doctoral fellowship (to A.P.) fromLesieur and Avril; Impact of ALA, EPA and DHA on obesity and metabolic complications were studied in mice fed a high-fat high-sucrose diet (HF). HF diets were supplemented with ALA, EPA or DHA (1%w/w) and given to C57BL/6J mice for 16 weeks and to Ob/Ob mice for 6 weeks. In C57BL/6J mice, EPA reduced plasma cholesterol (-20%), limited fat mass accumulation (-23%), adipose cell hypertrophy (-50%), and reduced plasma leptin concentration (-60%), compared to HF fed mice. Furthermore, mice supplemented with EPA exhibited a higher insulin sensitivity (+24%) and glucose tolerance (+20%) compared to HF fed mice. Similar effects were observed in EPA supplemented Ob/Ob mice, although fat mass accumulation was not prevented. By contrast in comparison to HF fed mice, DHA did not prevent fat mass accumulation, increased plasma leptin concentration (+128%) in C57BL/6J mice and did not improve glucose homeostasis in C57BL/6J and Ob/Ob mice. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, DHA stimulated leptin expression whereas EPA induced adiponectin expression, suggesting that improved leptin / adiponectin balance may contribute to the protective effect of EPA. In conclusion, supplementation with EPA, but not ALA and DHA, could preserve glucose homeostasis in an obesogenic environment and limit fat mass accumulation in the early stage of weight gain.

The saturated fatty acid palmitate (PAL) is now recognized as an inducer of inflammation in many types of cells, including adipocytes and muscle cells, whereas n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA) have anti-inflammatory properties. Meanwhile, PAL induces muscle insulin resistance (IR) and n-3PUFA are suggested to reverse it. We investigated n-3PUFA effects on palmitate-induced inflammation and the potential link between inflammation, P38MAPK activation and IR in C2C12 myotubes. After 16 hours incubation with 500µM PAL without or with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38MAPK, 50µM of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), myotubes were harvested and submitted to mRNA quantification or immunoblotting. IL-6, TNF-a and COX-2 mRNA levels were significantly increased by PAL treatment and reversed by EPA and DHA. Inhibition of p38MAPK significantly prevented the effect of PAL on these regulations although it had no significant effect on PAL-induced IR. Additional study should be performed to explore the involvement of NFKB signalling. Our results suggested that p38MAPK activation by PAL is crucial to induce inflammation in C212 muscle cells, independently of IR. Among n-3PUFA, only EPA and DHA reduced p38MAPK activation and improved IR. Additional studies are currently performed to explore the involvement of NFKB signalling in the effect of PAL on myotube inflammation and the impact of n-3 PUFA on this pathway

Topic 1 — Inflammation — A Topic 1 — Inflammation — ATopic 1 — Inflammation — A; IntroductionSepsis triggers the failure of cardiac mitochondria and this deleterious effect could be prevented by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).ObjectivesTo evaluate the influence of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20: 5 omega-3 or EPA) on the mechanical and mitochondrial functions of the heart during early sepsis.MethodsFour month-old female Wistar rats were subdivided in 4 groups (n = 8 per group) according to: (i) the 4-week diet given (deficient in omega-3 PUFA [DEF] or enriched with EPA); (ii) the surgery performed (caecal ligation at 1 cm of the apex of the heart and puncture in order to induce sepsis [CLP] or sham). The cardiac mechanical function was studied in vivo by NMR 48 h after the surgery. Immediately after, part of the myocardium was used in order to extract mitochondria and another part was frozen in order to subsequently analyse the fatty acid composition of cardiac phospholipids.ResultsThe EPA groups display a large decrease in the omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratio of cardiac phospholipids. Sepsis increases the mRNA expression of IL-1beta in the DEF group but not in the EPA one. The mechanical function is altered neither by the diets nor by the surgeries. The DEF/CLP animals have a deficient oxidative phosphorylation compared to the DEF/Sham rats: reduced mitochondrial oxygen consumption (−42%, P < 0.001) and ATP production (−37%, P < 0.05). The sepsis-induced mitochondrial damages in this group is due to an increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) release (+130 and +63% for the ROS/respiration and ROS/ATP ratios, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The dietary EPA prevents these damages (P < 0.05).ConclusionA sufficient EPA intake favours the upholding of the mitochondrial function during early sepsis, which could delay the subsequent development of heart failure. We plan to verify this beneficial effect of EPA in Humans affected by acute endocarditis.

International audience; Skeletal muscle plays a major role in the control of whole body glucose disposal in response to insulin stimulus. Excessive supply of fatty acids to this tissue triggers cellular and molecular disturbances leading to lipotoxicity, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunctions, impaired insulin response and decreased glucose uptake. This study was conducted to analyze the preventive effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acid, against insulin resistance, lipotoxicity and inflammation in skeletal muscle at doses compatible with nutritional supplementation. DHA (30 muM) prevented insulin resistance in C2C12 myotubes exposed to palmitate (500 muM) by decreasing protein kinase C (PKC)-theta activation and restoring cellular acylcarnitine profile, insulin-dependent AKT phosphorylation and glucose uptake. Furthermore, DHA protected C2C12 myotubes from palmitate- or lipopolysaccharide-induced increase in Ptgs2, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA level, probably through the inhibition of p38 MAP kinase and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase. In LDLR -/- mice fed a high-cholesterol-high-sucrose diet, supplementation with DHA reaching up to 2% of daily energy intake enhanced the insulin-dependent AKT phosphorylation and reduced the PKC-theta activation in skeletal muscle. Therefore, DHA used at physiological doses participates in the regulation of muscle lipid and glucose metabolisms by preventing lipotoxicity and inflammation.

This work was supported by 2 grants attributed by the Fédération Française de Cardiologie and society ADETEC of patients with a previous cardiac surgery; If it is sustained for several days, sepsis can trigger severe abnormalities of cardiac function which leads to death in 50% of cases. This probably occurs through activation of toll‐like receptor‐9 by bacterial lipopolysaccharides and overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF‐α and IL‐1β. In contrast, early sepsis is characterized by the development of tachycardia. This study aimed at determining the early changes in the cardiac function during sepsis and at finding the mechanism responsible for the observed changes. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups, the first one being made septic by cecal ligation and puncture (sepsis group) and the second one being subjected to the same surgery without cecal ligation and puncture (sham‐operated group). The cardiac function was assessed in vivo and ex vivo in standard conditions. Several parameters involved in the oxidative stress and inflammation were determined in the plasma and heart. As evidenced by the plasma level of TNF‐α and gene expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α in the heart, inflammation was developed in the sepsis group. The cardiac function was also slightly stimulated by sepsis in the in vivo and ex vivo situations. This was associated with unchanged levels of oxidative stress, but several parameters indicated a lower cardiac production of reactive oxygen species in the septic group. In conclusion, despite the development of inflammation, early sepsis did not increase reactive oxygen species production and did not reduce myocardial function. The depressant effect of TNF‐α and IL‐1β on the cardiac function is known to occur at very high concentrations. The influence of low‐ to moderate‐grade inflammation on the myocardial mechanical behavior must thus be revisited.

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from Avril (23000596) for the PhD thesis of A. Pinel and our research. We also thank Lesieur for their scientific support; Excessive energy intake leads to fat overload and the formation of lipotoxic compounds mainly derived from the saturated fatty add palmitate (PAL), thus promoting insulin resistance (IR) in skeletal muscle. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n - 3PUFA) may prevent lipotoxicity and IR. The purpose of this study was to examine the differential effects of n 3PUFA on fatty acid metabolism and insulin sensitivity in muscle cells. C2C12 myotubes were treated with 500 mu M of PAL without or with 50 mu M of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for 16h. PAL decreased insulin-dependent AKT activation and glucose uptake and increased the synthesis of ceramides and diglycerides (DG) derivatives, leading to protein kinase CO activation. EPA and DMA, but not ALA, prevented PAL-decreased AKT activation but glucose uptake was restored to control values by all n 3PUFA vs. PAL. Total DG and ceramide contents were decreased by all n 3PUFA, but only EPA and DMA increased PAL beta-oxidation, decreased PAL incorporation into DG and reduced protein kinase CO activation. EPA and DMA emerge as better candidates than ALA to improve fatty acid metabolism in skeletal muscle cells, notably via their ability to increase mitochondrial beta-oxidation

Abdominal obesity increases the incidence of cardiac events but reduces mortality when one of these events occurs. The phenomenon called obesity paradox might be related to myocardial energetics. This study was aimed at determining whether long-term abdominal adiposity alters cardiac energy function. Two groups of male Wistar rats were fed a standard or a Western-type (WD) diet for 8 months. The ex vivo coronary reactivity and mechanical function as well as the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (mOxPhos) and hydrogen peroxide release (mH2O2r) were determined. Abdominal adiposity was augmented by the WD. This was also the case for the coronary reactivity to acetylcholine, but the rate pressure product remained roughly stable despite a reduction of the left ventricle-developed pressure partly compensated by a slight increase in heart rate. The prolonged WD administration resulted in an improvement of mOxPhos, but the mH2O2r was exaggerated which was confirmed in the whole cell by a reduced aconitase to fumarase ratio. This did not modify the plasma oxidative stress due to an increased plasma antioxidant status. In conclusion, long-term WD administration improved the cardiac fitness and might predispose the organism to the obesity paradox. Conversely, the increased mitochondrial mH2O2r can precipitate the heart toward cardiomyopathy if the WD is maintained for a longer duration.

International audience; Background: The 2 major dietary sources of trans fatty acids (TFAs) are partially hydrogenated oils and ruminant-derived products. Epidemiologic data suggest that chronic consumption of industrial sources of TFAs could be damaging to insulin sensitivity, but intervention studies on this issue have remained inconclusive. Objective: The trial was designed to compare the effects of dairy compared with industrial sources of TFAs on insulin sensitivity in overweight women. Design: Sixty-three healthy women with abdominal obesity [waist circumference > 88 cm and a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) > 28] were recruited. After a run-in period, the volunteers were randomly assigned to consume 1 of 3 four-week diets: 60 g low-TFA lipids/d (0.54 g/d; n = 21), ruminant TFA-rich lipids (4.86 g/d; n = 21), or industrial TFA-rich lipids (5.58 g/d; n = 21). Changes in peripheral insulin sensitivity were assessed by using hyperinsulinemiceuglycemic clamps. Results: After the intervention period, fasting glycemia and insulinemia and insulin sensitivity were not significantly modified in either group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: These data indicate that consumption of dairy- and industrial-source TFAs for 4 wk at nutritional levels do not impair peripheral insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant women. Our study may not preassess the effects of TFAs in normal insulin-sensitive individuals. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00617435. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90:88-94.

International audience; Epidemiological studies suggest that chronic consumption of trans MUFA may alter muscle insulin sensitivity. The major sources of dietary trans MUFA (dairy fat vs. industrially hydrogenated oils) have different isomeric profiles and thus probably different metabolic consequences. These effects may involve alterations in muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity, which may in turn promote insulin resistance if fatty acid oxidation is reduced. We report that in Wistar rats, an 8 week diet enriched (4% of energy intake) in either dairy, industrial, or control MUFA did not alter insulin and glucose responses to an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (1g/kg). In C2C12 myotubes, vaccenic and elaidic acids did not modify insulin sensitivity compared with oleic acid. Furthermore, the ex vivo total, mitochondrial and peroxisomal oxidation rates of [1-(14)C]oleic, vaccenic, and elaidic acids were similar in soleus and tibialis anterior rat muscle. Finally, an 8 week diet enriched in either dairy or industrial trans MUFA did not alter mitochondrial oxidative capacity in these two muscles compared with control MUFA but did induce a specific reduction in soleus mitochondrial ATP and superoxide anion production (P

International audience; BACKGROUND: Saturated fatty acid-rich high fat (HF) diets trigger abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiac dysfunction. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of nascent obesity on the cardiac function of animals fed a high-fat diet and at analyzing the mechanisms by which these alterations occurred at the level of coronary reserve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were fed a control (C) or a HF diet containing high proportions of saturated fatty acids for 3 months. Thereafter, their cardiac function was evaluated in vivo using a pressure probe inserted into the cavity of the left ventricle. Their heart was isolated, perfused iso-volumetrically according to the Langendorff mode and the coronary reserve was evaluated by determining the endothelial-dependent (EDV) and endothelial-independent (EIV) vasodilatations in the absence and presence of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors (L-NAME and indomethacin). The fatty acid composition of cardiac phospholipids was then evaluated. RESULTS: Although all the HF-fed rats increased their abdominal adiposity, some of them did not gain body weight (HF- group) compared to the C group whereas other ones had a higher body weight (HF+). All HF rats displayed a higher in vivo cardiac activity associated with an increased EDV. In the HF- group, the improved EDV was due to an increase in the endothelial cell vasodilatation activity whereas in the HF+ group, the enhanced EDV resulted from an improved sensitivity of coronary smooth muscle cells to nitric oxide. Furthermore, in the HF- group the main pathway implicated in the EDV was the NOS pathway while in the HF+ group the COX pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Nascent obesity-induced improvement of cardiac function may be supported by an enhanced coronary reserve occurring via different mechanisms. These mechanisms implicate either the endothelial cells activity or the smooth muscle cells sensitivity depending on the body adiposity of the animals.

We would like to thank Mr. Cristophe Cottet for carefully editing the manuscript, Cindy Tellier for animal care, Mireille Osman for the measurements of GPx activity, FRAP assay and thiol groups in the plasmaWe would like to thank Mr. Cristophe Cottet for carefully editing the manuscript, Cindy Tellier for animal care, Mireille Osman for themeasurements of GPx activity, FRAP assay and thiol groups in the plasma; Background: There has been accumulating evidence associating diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular dysfunctions. However, most of the studies are focused on the late stages of diabetes and on the function of large arteries. This study aimed at characterizing the effects of the early phase of diabetes mellitus on the cardiac and vascular function with focus on the intact coronary microvasculature and the oxidative stress involved. Materials and methods: Zucker diabetic fatty rats and their lean littermates fed with standard diet A04 (Safe) were studied at the 11th week of age. Biochemical parameters such as glucose, insulin and triglycerides levels as well as their oxidative stress status were measured. Their hearts were perfused ex vivo according to Langendorff and their cardiac activity and coronary microvascular reactivity were evaluated. Results: Zucker fatty rats already exhibited a diabetic state at this age as demonstrated by the elevated levels of plasma glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin and triglycerides. The ex vivo perfusion of their hearts revealed a decreased cardiac mechanical function and coronary flow. This was accompanied by an increase in the overall oxidative stress of the organs. However, estimation of the active form of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and coronary reactivity indicated a preserved function of the coronary microvessels at this phase of the disease. Diabetes affected also the cardiac membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition by increasing the arachidonic acid and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids levels. Conclusions: The presence of diabetes, even at its beginning, significantly increased the overall oxidative stress of the organs resulting to decreased cardiac mechanical activity ex vivo. However, adaptations were adopted at this early phase of the disease regarding the preserved coronary microvascular reactivity and the associated cardiac phospholipid composition in order to provide a certain protection to the heart