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17β‐Estradiol Increases Liver and Serum Docosahexaenoic Acid in Mice Fed Varying Levels of α‐Linolenic Acid
Author(s) -
Mason Julie K.,
Kharotia Shikhil,
Wiggins Ashleigh K. A.,
Kitson Alex P.,
Chen Jianmin,
Bazinet Richard P.,
Thompson Lilian U.
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/s11745-014-3913-8
Subject(s) - docosahexaenoic acid , medicine , clinical chemistry , endocrinology , ovariectomized rat , lipidology , chemistry , fatty acid , meal , polyunsaturated fatty acid , biology , hormone , biochemistry
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is considered to be important for cardiac and brain function, and 17β‐estradiol (E2) appears to increase the conversion of α‐linolenic acid (ALA) into DHA. However, the effect of varying ALA intake on the positive effect of E2 on DHA synthesis is not known. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of E2 supplementation on tissue and serum fatty acids in mice fed a low‐ALA corn oil‐based diet (CO, providing 0.6 % fatty acids as ALA) or a high ALA flaxseed meal‐based diet (FS, providing 11.2 % ALA). Ovariectomized mice were implanted with a slow‐release E2 pellet at 3 weeks of age and half the mice had the pellet removed at 7 weeks of age. Mice were then randomized onto either the CO or FS diet. After 4 weeks, the DHA concentration was measured in serum, liver and brain. A significant main effect of E2 was found for liver and serum DHA, corresponding to 25 and 15 % higher DHA in livers of CO and FS rats, respectively, and 19 and 13 % in serum of CO and FS rats, respectively, compared to unsupplemented mice. There was no effect of E2 on brain DHA. E2 results in higher DHA in serum and liver, at both levels of dietary ALA investigated presently, suggesting that higher ALA intake may result in higher DHA in individuals with higher E2 status.