title: Mechanisms for the serum lipid-lowering effect of n-3 fatty acids.
abstract: Both epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that a high content of n-3 fatty acids in the diet lowers serum lipid concentration. However, the mechanism for this effect is unclear. In this present study it has been shown that labelled linolenic acid (18:3, n-3) is oxidized to a larger extent than linoleic acid (18:2,n-6) in isolated rat hepatocytes. Conversely, the incorporation of linolenic acid and the desaturated/chain-elongated products in VLDL-triacylglycerol is decreased compared with linoleic acid. Dietary n-3 fatty acids have probably a depressing effect on both hepatic triacylglycerol synthesis and on secretion of VLDL. The finding that n-3 fatty acids are transported from the liver as ketone bodies to a larger extent than n-6 fatty acids may thus explain that a high intake of n-3 fatty acids is not accompanied with hepatic steatosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hagve
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Christophersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D008055:Lipids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid