title: The role of Odontella aurita, a marine diatom rich in EPA, as a dietary supplement in dyslipidemia, platelet function and oxidative stress in high-fat fed rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dietary changes are a major factor in determining cardiovascular risk. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the risk factors for metabolic syndrome via multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of the lipid metabolism. We therefore investigated the effect of Odontella aurita, a microalga rich in EPA, which is already used as a food supplement, on the risk factors for high-fat diet induced metabolic syndrome in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups and were fed with a standard diet (control); with the standard diet supplemented with 3% freeze-dried O. aurita (COA); with a high-fat diet (HF); or with the high-fat diet supplemented with 3% of freeze-dried O. aurita (HFOA) for 7 weeks. In this study we evaluated the impact of these different diets on the risk factors for metabolic syndrome, such as hyperlipidemia, platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2 production, and oxidative stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 7 weeks of treatment, high fat feeding had increased final body weight, glycemia, triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol levels in plasma and liver compared to the control diet. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation and basal platelet thromboxane B2 were also higher in the high-fat fed rats than in those in the control group. In the liver, oxidative stress was greater in the HF group than in the control group. O. aurita intake in HFOA-fed rats resulted in lower glycemia and lipid levels in the plasma and liver relative than in the HF group. Thus, in the HFOA group, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in the tissues studied (plasma, liver, and platelets) were higher than in the HF group. Platelet hyper-aggregability tended to decrease in HFOA-fed rats as basal platelet thromboxane B2 production decreased. Finally, O. aurita reduced oxidative stress in the liver, with lower malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione peroxidase activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  O. aurita is a marine diatom rich in EPA as well as in other bioactive molecules, such as pigments. The synergistic effect of these microalgal compounds, displayed a beneficial effect in reducing the risk factors for high-fat induced metabolic syndrome: hyperlipidemia, platelet aggregation, and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine, PRES L'UNAM, EA 2160 MMS (Mer, Molécules, Santé), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Le Mans - IUT Département Génie Biologique, Laval, France.
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haimeur
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ulmann
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mimouni
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guéno
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pineau-Vincent
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meskini
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremblin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014280:Triglycerides