n‐3 fatty acids as part of a saturated fatty acid rich diet reduces plasma lipids levels, and arterial inflammatory markers in LDLR KO mice.

Dietary fatty acids (FA) affect serum lipid levels and atherosclerosis progression in mice and humans. Saturated (SAT) FA promote, but n‐3 FA likely diminish risk of cardiovascular disease. To evaluate the effect of increasing ratios of dietary n‐3 FA to SAT FA on plasma lipids levels and arterial inflammatory markers, endothelial lipase (EL) and PPAR gama expression, male LDLR KO mice were randomly assigned to six experimental diets for 12 weeks. Control mice were fed a standard low‐fat chow diet (7% fat wt/wt) and 5 other groups received high fat diets (19% fat wt/wt) with increasing percents of n‐3 relative to SAT FA (0,10,25,50,100%). Diets with n‐3 FA greater than or equal to 25% decreased triglyceride levels by 60–80%, cholesterol 30–60% and free FA between 15–50%. 100% n‐3 diets significantly decreased pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐6 and IL‐12 p40) mRNA levels by 74% and 50% respectively and PPAR gama by 26% compared to chow diet. In addition, n‐3 diet increased anti‐inflammatory cytokine (IL‐10) mRNA levels by 69% and decreased EL mRNA levels 5‐fold compared to 100% SAT diet. We expect with ongoing analyses to see a progressive effect of n‐3 FA on decreasing adverse arterial SAT responses. We hypothesize that n‐3 FA added to SAT diets will decrease the progression of atherosclerosis by modulating plasma lipid profiles and arterial EL, and by decreasing arterial pro‐inflammatory markers.