title: A combination of (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols and L-carnitine reduces the plasma lipid levels and increases the expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HepG2 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperlipidemia and obesity are associated with metabolic syndrome and increased risk in developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Nutritional supplements, e.g. L-carnitine and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), exert lipid-lowering effects. Hence, the hypothesis that dietetic intervention reduces plasma lipid levels and metabolic enzymes in overweight hyperlipidemic subjects was tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective placebo-controlled double-blind study in 22 moderately hyperlipidemic obese humans consuming low-fat yoghurt enriched with a combination of low-dose PUFAs, polyphenols and L-carnitine (PPC) twice a day for 12 weeks were compared to 20 matching participants ingesting low-fat yoghurt. The effects on plasma lipids and expression of enzymes involved in regulation of fatty acid oxidation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HepG2 cells were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPC consumption led to significantly reduced plasma free fatty acid (-29%) and triglyceride (-24%) concentrations (each p < 0.05). PPC application increased significantly peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) mRNA abundances and those of PPARα target genes (carnitine palmitoyltransferases-1, CPT1A and CPT1B, carnitine acetyltransferase and organic cation transporter 2; each p < 0.05) in PBMCs. In controls, plasma lipid levels and PBMC gene expression did not change. These findings were substantiated by the results of cell culture experiments in HepG2 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of PPC had marked lipid-lowering effects and PBMC gene expression profiles seemed to reflect nutrition-related metabolic changes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Institute of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Radler
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stangl
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lienbacher
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krepp
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brachinger
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eller-Berndl
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anzur
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schoerg
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mascher
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laschan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anderwald
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lohninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059808:Polyphenols; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005419:Flavonoids; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D047493:PPAR alpha; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002331:Carnitine