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‘Metabolic syndrome’ in the brain: deficiency in omega‐3 fatty acid exacerbates dysfunctions in insulin receptor signalling and cognition
Author(s) -
Agrawal Rahul,
GomezPinilla Fernando
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.230078
Subject(s) - docosahexaenoic acid , metabolic syndrome , endocrinology , insulin , fatty acid , biology , insulin resistance , insulin receptor , metabolic pathway , medicine , energy homeostasis , beta oxidation , metabolism , fructose , neuroscience , diabetes mellitus , biochemistry , obesity , polyunsaturated fatty acid
Key points • We provide novel evidence for the effects of metabolic dysfunctions on brain function using the rat model of metabolic syndrome induced by high fructose intake. • We describe that the deleterious consequences of unhealthy dietary habits can be partially counteracted by dietary supplementation of n ‐3 fatty acid. • High sugar consumption impaired cognitive abilities and disrupted insulin signalling by engaging molecules associated with energy metabolism and synaptic plasticity; in turn, the presence of docosahexaenoic acid, an n ‐3 fatty acid, restored metabolic homeostasis. • These findings expand the concept of metabolic syndrome affecting the brain and provide the mechanistic evidence of how dietary habits can interact to regulate brain functions, which can further alter lifelong susceptibility to the metabolic disorders.