Bile acid sequestration normalizes plasma cholesterol and reduces atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice. No additional effect of physical activity

AimsBile acid sequestrants (BAS) and physical activity (RUN) decrease incidence of cardiovascular events. Both treatments are often prescribed, yet it is not known whether their beneficial effects are additive. We assessed the effects of BAS treatment alone and in combination with RUN on cholesterol metabolism, heart function and atherosclerotic lesion size in hypercholesterolemic mice.MethodsMale Ldlr-deficient mice remained either sedentary (CONTROL), were treated with Colesevelam HCl (BAS), had access to a running wheel (RUN), or were exposed to BAS and RUN (BAS RUN). All groups were fed a high cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Then, feces, bile and plasma were collected. Atherosclerotic lesion size was determined in the aortic arch and heart function by echocardiography.ResultsBAS RUN ran more than RUN (6.4 ± 1.4 vs. 3.5 ± 1.0 km/day, p < 0.05). BAS and BAS RUN displayed ∼3-fold reductions in plasma cholesterol levels (p < 0.001), ∼2.5-fold increases in fecal neutral sterol (p < 0.001) and bile acid (p = 0.01) outputs, decreases in biliary secretions of cholesterol (∼6-fold, p < 0.0001) and bile acids (∼2-fold, p < 0.001) vs. CONTROL while no significant effects were observed in RUN. Compared to CONTROL, lesion size decreased by 78% in both BAS and BAS RUN, (p < 0.0001).ConclusionBAS reduce atherosclerosis in Ldlr-deficient mice, coinciding with a switch from body cholesterol accumulation to cholesterol loss. RUN slightly modulated atherosclerotic lesion formation but the combination of BAS and RUN had no clear additive effects in this respect.

► BAS greatly decreased atherosclerosis in Ldlr-deficient mice. ► Running slightly modulated atherosclerosis. ► The combination of BAS and RUN had no additive benefits on atherosclerosis. ► BAS promoted a switch from body cholesterol accumulation to cholesterol loss. ► BAS had no effect on heart function.