Supplementation of cow milk naturally enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols to growing rats

PLoS One. 2017 Mar 7;12(3):e0172909. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172909. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

This study investigated whether intake of cow milk, naturally enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, omega-3) and polyphenols (from propolis extract and vitamin E), from manipulation of cow's diet, would result in positive metabolic effects in rats from weaning until adulthood. Male Wistar rats were fed a standard chow diet or a hypercaloric diet (metabolically disturbed rats, obese) which was supplemented with either whole common milk, milk enriched with PUFA (PUFA-M) or milk enriched with PUFA and polyphenols (PUFA/P-M), at 5mL/kg body weight,having water as control. Whole milk supplementation increased initial weight gain and reduced gain in the adulthood of rats. Intake of common milk reduced cholesterol levels in non-obese rats and reduced insulin resistance in obese rats. PUFA-milk showed a decreasing effect on plasma triacylglycerol and VLDL concentrations, increasing plasma HDL concentration and reducing adipocyte size of non-obese rats, but no effect was observed in obese rats. PUFA/P-milk in obese rats resulted in greater deposition of muscle mass and mesenteric fat, with a tendency to lower LDL levels, and resulted a visceral fat accumulation in non-obese rats. Thus, whole common milk and PUFA-rich milk have shown to be beneficial in a normal metabolic condition, whereas common milk and milk enriched with PUFA and polyphenols improve metabolic effects of obesity.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Body Weight
  • Cattle
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated*
  • Male
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Polyphenols*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Polyphenols

Grants and funding

The Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) is acknowledged for the financial support (482858/2011-7, Brasília, DF, Brazil).