Refined Carbohydrate-Rich Diet Promotes Early Myocardial Dysfunction Associated with Adiponectin Reduction, Inflammation, and Impaired Ca2+ Handling in Female Rats

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Population: Healthy female Wistar rats (n=56). Intervention: High-carbohydrate diet (HCD) vs. Standard chow. Primary outcome: Myocardial contractility (papillary muscle force and dF/dt+).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Short-term consumption of a refined carbohydrate-rich diet causes early myocardial contractile dysfunction associated with impaired Ca2+ handling, reduced adiponectin, and elevated inflammation in female rats. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Fernanda Calote; GABRIEL COELHO SANDOVAL; Karoline Neumann Gomes; Emanuel P.G. Oliveira; Filipe Martinuzo Filetti; Mirian Fioresi; Andressa Bolsoni Lopes; Karolini Zuqui Nunes

doi:10.3390/nu18142281

July 12, 2026NutrientsOpen Access

Refined Carbohydrate-Rich Diet Promotes Early Myocardial Dysfunction Associated with Adiponectin Reduction, Inflammation, and Impaired Ca2+ Handling in Female Rats

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Key result

Short-term refined carbohydrate diet impairs cardiac contractile function and Ca2+ handling in female rats.

n=56

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Why the study?

Diets rich in refined carbohydrates are linked to cardiometabolic dysfunction, but the mechanisms connecting metabolic disturbances to myocardial impairment in females remain unclear.

Does a high-carbohydrate diet induce early myocardial dysfunction in female rats?

Key Points

To evaluate the effects of short-term consumption of a refined carbohydrate-rich diet on papillary muscle contractility and intracellular calcium handling in female rats.
Adult female Wistar rats were fed either a standard control diet (CT) or a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) containing 45% sweetened condensed milk, 10% refined sugar, and 45% standard chow for 15 days.
Evaluated systemic metabolic profiles, oral glucose tolerance tests, inflammatory markers, papillary muscle contractility, and protein expression of phospholamban (PLB), SERCA2a, and NCX-1.
HCD increased ovarian adipose tissue mass by 36.98% and triglyceride levels by 24.56%, reduced HDL by 19.66% and LDL by 16.4%, and caused higher glycemic values at 15 min (38.40%) and 30 min (33.19%) during glucose tolerance testing without altering total body mass.
Papillary muscles in the HCD group exhibited impaired contractile function with reduced developed force, a lower positive force derivative (dF/dt+), and decreased post-rest potentiation and contraction.
Cardiac tissue from HCD rats showed elevated TNF-α expression and reduced circulating adiponectin, alongside increased PLB protein expression with unchanged SERCA2a and NCX-1 levels.

Structured PICO

Does a high-carbohydrate diet induce early myocardial dysfunction in female rats?

P

Population

56 adult female Wistar rats (8 weeks old) randomized to a high-carbohydrate diet or standard chow for 15 days to assess myocardial contractility.

I

Intervention

High-carbohydrate diet (HCD) consisting of 45% sweetened condensed milk, 10% refined sugar, and 45% standard chow for 15 days

C

Comparator

Standard chow (CT group)

O

Outcome

Myocardial contractility (papillary muscle force and dF/dt+) and intracellular Ca2+ handling in isolated left ventricular papillary musclessurrogate

Short-term consumption of refined carbohydrates induces early cardiac contractile dysfunction and metabolic disturbances in females prior to structural changes.

Limitations

Absence of protein evaluation and assessment of PLB phosphorylation status
Lack of direct measurement of SERCA2a activity
Lack of echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function

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Implication

Rat findings do not guide human diets; leaves open whether refined carbohydrates impair early cardiac function in females.

Abstract

Introduction: Diets rich in refined carbohydrates are associated with cardiometabolic dysfunction, but the mechanisms linking metabolic disturbances to myocardial impairment in females remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of short-term consumption of a refined carbohydrate-rich diet on papillary muscle contractility in female rats. Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were assigned to either a control diet (CT) or a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) for 15 days. The HCD consisted of 45% sweetened condensed milk, 10% refined sugar, and 45% standard chow. Metabolic, inflammatory, functional, and molecular parameters were evaluated. Myocardial contractility and intracellular Ca2+ handling were assessed in isolated left ventricular papillary muscles, while phospholamban (PLB), SERCA2a, and NCX1 protein expression were analyzed. Results: The HCD increased ovarian adipose tissue, triglyceride levels, glucose intolerance, and TNF-α levels, while decreasing HDL cholesterol and circulating adiponectin. Leptin and MCP-1 levels were unchanged. Functional assessments revealed impaired cardiac contractility, evidenced by reduced papillary muscle force and lower positive force derivative (dF/dt+). HCD also decreased post-pause potentiation and post-rest contraction, indicating impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ storage and release, as well as potentially reduced extracellular calcium influx. At the molecular level, PLB expression was increased, whereas SERCA2a and NCX1 expression remained unchanged. Conclusions: Short-term consumption of a refined carbohydrate-rich diet induces early cardiac contractile dysfunction in female rats, associated with impaired Ca2+ handling, reduced adiponectin, and increased inflammation, suggesting that metabolic and inflammatory disturbances precede structural cardiac alterations and may promote cardiometabolic disease development.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Calote et al. (2026) studied Healthy female Wistar rats (n=56). High-carbohydrate diet (HCD) vs. Standard chow was evaluated on Myocardial contractility (papillary muscle force and dF/dt+). Short-term consumption of a refined carbohydrate-rich diet induced early cardiac contractile dysfunction in female rats, characterized by reduced papillary muscle force and impaired Ca2+ handling.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a5600ff10535b590d16240e https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18142281

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Refined Carbohydrate-Rich Diet Promotes Early Myocardial Dysfunction Associated with Adiponectin Reduction, Inflammation, and Impaired Ca2+ Handling in Female Rats

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Refined Carbohydrate-Rich Diet Promotes Early Myocardial Dysfunction Associated with Adiponectin Reduction, Inflammation, and Impaired Ca2+ Handling in Female Rats

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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