Monounsaturated and omega-3 but not omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids improve hepatic fibrosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
Although the influence of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), lipids, cholesterol levels, and other blood lipids has been established, few studies have examined the influence of these dietary lipids on the composition and histologic damage of organs in situations of hypercholesterolemia. Biliary lipids come from the liver, and this organ is essential in cholesterol homeostasis; thus, it may be helpful to evaluate the inter-relations among biliary, hepatic lipids, and hepatotoxic effects in situations of hypercholesterolemia with different dietary lipids. This study investigated whether administration of diets differing in fatty acid profiles (omega-3 PUFA, omega-6 PUFA, or MUFA) influence the content of biliary lipids, the lithogenic index of gallbladder bile, and the development of hepatic fibrosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.


METHODS
Thirty rabbits were randomized to one of five groups. A control group received rabbit chow for 80 d. The remaining four groups received a 50-d diet that contained 3% lard and 13% cholesterol to provoke hypercholesterolemia. After this period, three groups were fed for another 30 d on a diet enriched with omega-6 PUFAs, MUFAs, and omega-3 PUFAs, respectively. Liver, bile, and plasma lipid compositions, lipid peroxidation in hepatic mitochondria, and histologic hepatic lesions were analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a beneficial effect of MUFA and omega-3 PUFA on hepatic fibrosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits because both dietary fats led to recovery from hepatic lesions. However, because intake of omega-3 PUFA provoked lithogenic bile in rabbits, MUFA intake would be more advisable.
Aguilera
Concepción M
CM
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Ramirez-Tortosa
César L
CL
Quiles
José L
JL
Yago
M Dolores
MD
Martínez-Burgos
M Alba
MA
Martínez-Victoria
Emilio
E
Gil
Angel
A
Ramirez-Tortosa
M Carmen
MC
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D008055:Lipids