title: High intake of saturated fat, but not polyunsaturated fat, improves survival in heart failure despite persistent mitochondrial defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of a high-fat diet on the failing heart is unclear, and the differences between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and saturated fat have not been assessed. Here, we compared a standard low-fat diet to high-fat diets enriched with either saturated fat (palmitate and stearate) or PUFA (linoleic and α-linolenic acids) in hamsters with genetic cardiomyopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male δ-sarcoglycan null Bio TO2 hamsters were fed a standard low-fat diet (12% energy from fat), or high-fat diets (45% fat) comprised of either saturated fat or PUFA. The median survival was increased by the high saturated fat diet (P< 0.01; 278 days with standard diet and 361 days with high saturated fat)), but not with high PUFA (260 days) (n = 30-35/group). Body mass was modestly elevated (∼10%) in both high fat groups. Subgroups evaluated after 24 weeks had similar left ventricular chamber size, function, and mass. Mitochondrial oxidative enzyme activity and the yield of interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) were decreased to a similar extent in all TO2 groups compared with normal F1B hamsters. Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening was enhanced in IFM in all TO2 groups compared with F1B hamsters, but to a significantly greater extent in those fed the high PUFA diet compared with the standard or high saturated fat diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that a high intake of saturated fat improves survival in heart failure compared with a high PUFA diet or low-fat diet, despite persistent mitochondrial defects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Tatiana F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Galvao
authors.forename: Bethany H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: Hani N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Sabbah
authors.forename: Sharad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rastogi
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daneault
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Des Rosiers
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006224:Cricetinae; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D049031:Sarcoglycans / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D049031:Sarcoglycans