title: Oils rich in α-linolenic acid independently protect against characteristics of fatty liver disease in the Δ6-desaturase null mouse.
abstract: Alpha-linolenic acid's (ALA) biological activity is poorly understood and primarily associated with its conversion to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Delta-6 desaturase (D6D) initiates the metabolism of linoleic acid (LA) and ALA to arachidonic acid, EPA, and DHA, respectively. In this study, D6D knock-out (D6KO) mice were used to evaluate the effects of ALA-rich oils in preventing hepatic steatosis and inflammation. D6KO and wild-type mice were fed 1 of 4 high-fat (14% w/w) diets: (i) lard (LD, 0% n-3 PUFA), (ii) canola oil + ARASCO (CD, 8% ALA), (iii) flax seed oil + ARASCO (FD, 55% ALA), (iv) menhaden oil (MD, 30% EPA/DHA) for 8 or 20 weeks. Livers of D6KO mice consuming CD and FD were depleted of EPA/DHA, and enriched in ALA. Markers of fat accumulation and inflammation were lowest in the MD-fed mice, at 8 and 20 weeks, regardless of genotype. CD- and FD-fed D6KO groups were found to have lower liver lipid accumulation and lower hepatic inflammation relative to the LD-fed mice at 8 weeks. In conclusion, while MD was the most protective, this study shows that ALA can act independently on risk factors associated with the development of fatty liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Askarian
authors.forename: Manabu T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Mohammed H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moghadasian
authors.forename: David W L
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000737:chemistry*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D010743:Phospholipids; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; C033266:Menhaden oil; D008043:Linseed Oil; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase