The effects of L-arginine, alone and combined with vitamin C, on mineral status in relation to its antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in male rats on a high-fat diet.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the intake of L-arginine alone and of L-arginine with vitamin C on mineral concentration in rats fed with a high-fat diet, and to assess the lipid glucose, insulin, and total antioxidant status (TAS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha serum levels that result. Wistar rats were assigned to groups fed with either a standard control diet (C), a diet high in fat (FD), a diet high in fat with L-arginine, or a diet high in fat with L-arginine and vitamin C. After 6 weeks, the length and weight of the rats were measured, and the animals were euthanized. The liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, heart, and gonads were collected, as were blood samples. The total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting glucose, insulin, TAS, and TNF alpha levels were measured. The tissue calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper concentrations were determined. It was found that L-arginine supplementation diminished the effect of the modified diet on the concentration of iron in the liver and spleen and of copper in heart. At the same time, it was observed that L-arginine supplementation reduced the effect of the high-fat diet on insulin, TNF alpha, and TAS. The combination of L-arginine and vitamin C produced a similar effect on the mineral levels in the tissues as did L-arginine used alone. Moreover, positive correlations between serum insulin and iron in the liver, between TNF alpha and iron in the liver, and between TNF alpha and copper in the heart were observed. The level of TAS in serum was inversely correlated with the copper level in the heart and the iron level in the liver. We concluded that the beneficial influence of L-arginine on insulin, TAS, and TNF alpha serum level is associated with changes in the iron and copper status in rats fed with a high-fat diet. No synergistic effect of L-arginine and vitamin C in the biochemical parameters or in the mineral status in rats fed with the modified diet was observed.