Investigation of the effects of chronic l-arginine supplementation on paraoxonase-1 activity in high-cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia model in rats

Background This study aimed to evaluate the effects of L-arginine supplementation on paraoxonase1 (PON1) activity, lipid profile, and oxidative status in hypercholesterolemic rats. Methods Subjects were randomly selected and divided into four equal groups (n = 9): control (C), L-arginine (LA), hypercholesterolemia (HC), and hypercholesterolemia + L-arginine (HC + LA). At the end of the study, serum lipid levels, PON1, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured, and the atherogenic index (ATI) was calculated. Atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated histopathologically. Results PON1, MDA, and lipid levels, as well as ATI and the PON1/HDL ratio, were found to be increased in the HC group. These variables were significantly decreased in the HC + LA group compared to the HC group. Moreover, a significant increase was observed in TG, VLDL, and PON1 levels in the LA group compared to the C group. A strong negative correlation was found between PON1 and MDA levels. Conclusions L-arginine supplementation was found to be effective in decreasing ATI, LDL, and oxidative stress, as well as alleviating structural vascular changes.