Protective effect of resveratrol against prostate enlargement induced by high-fat diet

Background: Resveratrol has shown preventing effect on prostate diseases. This research was performed to investigate the protective effect of resveratrol on prostate enlargement induced by high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Rats were divided into four groups: normal pellet diet feeding (NPD), high-fat diet feeding (HFD), resveratrol treating (HFD+RES) and pioglitazone treating (HFD+PIO) groups. Fasting insulin and glucose level were assessed by radioimmunoassay and capillary blood glucose method respectively. Insulin resistance was evaluated by Homeostasis Model Assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Body weight, prostate weigh, and visceral fat weight in were measured and prostate index was calculated. The expression of PPAR gamma, COX-2, NOX-2, SOD-1 and SOD-2 were revealed by using western blot analysis. Results: Insulin level in HFD group was increased than in NPD group. Resveratrol administration decreased the level of insulin and induced a decline trend in HOMA-IR. Resveratrol had similar effect with pioglitazone in decreasing prostate weight, visceral fat and PI. Furthermore, they reversed the up-regulated expression of COX-2 and NOX-2, as well as the down-regulated expression of PPAR gamma, SOD-1 and SOD-2 produced by HFD-fed. Conclusion: Resveratrol has protective effects on improving prostate enlargement induced by HFD which was achieved by alleviating hyperinsulinemia, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative characteristics.