Dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid influence liver triacylglycerol and insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fructose diet

Mar Drugs. 2015 Apr 1;13(4):1864-81. doi: 10.3390/md13041864.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the benefits of different amounts of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil (FO) on lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and gene expression in rats fed a high-fructose diet. Male Wistar rats were separated into two groups: Control (C, n = 6) and Fructose (Fr, n = 32), the latter receiving a diet containing 63% by weight fructose for 60 days. After this period, 24 animals from Fr group were allocated to three groups: FrFO2 (n = 8) receiving 63% fructose and 2% FO plus 5% soybean oil; FrFO5 (n = 8) receiving 63% fructose and 5% FO plus 2% soybean oil; and FrFO7 (n = 8) receiving 63% fructose and 7% FO. Animals were fed these diets for 30 days. Fructose led to an increase in liver weight, hepatic and serum triacylglycerol, serum alanine aminotransferase and HOMA1-IR index. These alterations were reversed by 5% and 7% FO. FO had a dose-dependent effect on expression of genes related to hepatic β-oxidation (increased) and hepatic lipogenesis (decreased). The group receiving the highest FO amount had increased markers of oxidative stress. It is concluded that n-3 fatty acids may be able to reverse the adverse metabolic effects induced by a high fructose diet.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / adverse effects
  • Dietary Supplements / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / adverse effects
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / adverse effects
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Fish Oils / administration & dosage
  • Fish Oils / adverse effects
  • Fish Oils / therapeutic use
  • Fructose / adverse effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / diet therapy*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Metabolic Syndrome / pathology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Organ Size
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Triglycerides / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Fish Oils
  • Triglycerides
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Fructose
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid