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Oils rich in alpha‐linolenic acid independently protect against characteristics of fatty liver disease in the delta‐6‐desaturase null mouse
Author(s) -
Monteiro Jessica,
McLennan Mira,
Hillyer Lyn,
Askarian Fatemeh,
Moghadasian Mohammed H.,
Nakamura Manabu T,
Ma David W.L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.266.1
Subject(s) - steatosis , canola , fatty liver , alpha linolenic acid , medicine , inflammation , lipid metabolism , fatty acid desaturase , biology , fatty acid , fish oil , endocrinology , chemistry , biochemistry , food science , disease , polyunsaturated fatty acid , fish <actinopterygii> , docosahexaenoic acid , fishery
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing health concern. The study objective was to use the novel Δ‐6‐desaturase null (D6KO) mouse to determine if α‐linolenic acid (ALA) can independently prevent hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Experimental groups include male wild type (WT) or D6KO mice fed a high fat diet (30% fat) containing either: lard (LD), canola oil (CD,11% ALA), flax oil (FD,50% ALA), or fish oil (MD, n‐3 HUFA) (n=4–7/group) for 8 or 20 weeks. At 8 weeks mean hepatic inflammation scores for D6KO CD and FD groups were intermediate between LD and MD scores, and lower than WT scores. In contrast, D6KO FD and CD groups had higher hepatic steatosis scores relative to WT mice. FD and MD D6KO groups had lower liver lipid mass relative to LD‐fed D6KO mice. Similar trends were seen at 20 weeks. Gas chromatography confirmed the absence of n‐3 HUFA (LD, CD, FD) and of enrichment ALA (CD, FD) in D6KO liver tissue. Results confirm that perturbations in essential fatty acid metabolism lead to the development of fatty liver, and suggest that oils rich in ALA can independently prevent hepatic inflammation. Supported by Canola Council of Canada, NSERC, CFI/ORF to D.Ma and OGS to J. Monteiro Grant Funding Source : Canola Council of Canada, NSERC