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Dietary Linoleic Acid Elevates the Endocannabinoids 2‐AG and Anandamide and Promotes Weight Gain in Mice Fed a Low Fat Diet
Author(s) -
Alvheim Anita Røyneberg,
Torstensen Bente E.,
Lin Yu Hong,
Lillefosse Haldis Haukås,
Lock ErikJan,
Madsen Lise,
Frøyland Livar,
Hibbeln Joseph R.,
Malde Marian Kjellevold
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/s11745-013-3842-y
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , anandamide , endocrinology , medicine , leptin , adipose tissue , clinical chemistry , weight gain , arachidonic acid , lipidology , linoleic acid , chemistry , obesity , biology , cannabinoid receptor , biochemistry , body weight , fatty acid , enzyme , receptor , antagonist
Dietary intake of linoleic acid (LNA, 18:2n‐6) has increased dramatically during the 20th century and is associated with greater prevalence of obesity. The endocannabinoid system is involved in regulation of energy balance and a sustained hyperactivity of the endocannabinoid system may contribute to obesity. Arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n‐6) is the precursor for 2‐AG and anandamide (AEA), and we sought to determine if low fat diets (LFD) could be made obesogenic by increasing the endocannabinoid precursor pool of ARA, causing excessive endocannabinoid signaling leading to weight gain and a metabolic profile associated with obesity. Mice (C57BL/6j, 6 weeks of age) were fed 1 en% LNA and 8 en% LNA in low fat (12.5 en%) and medium fat diets (MFD, 35 en%) for 16 weeks. We found that increasing dietary LNA from 1 to 8 en% in LFD and MFD significantly increased ARA in phospholipids (ARA–PL), elevated 2‐AG and AEA in liver, elevated plasma leptin, and resulted in larger adipocytes and more macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue. In LFD, dietary LNA of 8 en% increased feed efficiency and caused greater weight gain than in an isocaloric reduction to 1 en% LNA. Increasing dietary LNA from 1 to 8 en% elevates liver endocannabinoid levels and increases the risk of developing obesity. Thus a high dietary content of LNA (8 en%) increases the adipogenic properties of a low fat diet.