Combination of Grape Seed Extract and Exercise Training Improves Left Ventricular Dysfunction in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: Cardiomyopathy is one of the major complications of diabetes. It has been indicated that regular Exercise Training (ET) and antioxidants could reduce cardiomyopathy and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of diabetes.

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the effects of Grape Seed Extract (GSE) with and without ET on left ventricular function in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 45 male Wistar rats weighing 200 - 232 grams were randomly assigned to five groups: sedentary control, sedentary diabetic, trained diabetic, GSE treated sedentary diabetic, and GSE treated trained diabetic. ET was conducted on a treadmill daily. After eight weeks, left ventricular function was determined by Langendorff system. Then, the data were statistically analyzed using one-way and repeated measures ANOVA followed by LSD test.

Results: Systolic pressure gradient associated with diastolic pressure and maximum ± dP/dT that was reduced by STZ was partially improved with GSE or ET, but was completely corrected by their combination. Moreover, heart rate and left ventricular developed pressure that were reduced by STZ did not change by GSE or ET alone, but improved by their combination.

Conclusions: The results indicated that a combination of ET and GSE had more significant improving effects on left ventricular dysfunction compared to ET or GSE alone. Thus, it may constitute a convenient and inexpensive therapeutic approach to diabetic cardiomyopathy.