title: Protective role of n6/n3 PUFA supplementation with varying DHA/EPA ratios against atherosclerosis in mice.
abstract: The effects of n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on cardiovascular disease are controversial. We currently explored the effects of various ratios of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on high-fat-induced atherosclerosis. In model apoE(-/-) mice, high-fat diets (HFD) were partially replaced with fish and algal oils (DHA/EPA 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2) and/or plant oils enriched in linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids with an n6/n3 ratio of 4:1. PUFA supplementation significantly reduced the atherosclerotic plaque area, serum lipid profile, inflammatory response, aortic ROS production, proinflammatory factors and scavenger receptor expression as compared to those in the HFD group. However, plant oils did not have a significant effect on the following: serum HDL-C level; aortic ABCA1, ABCG1 and LAL mRNA expression; and CD36 and LOX-1 protein expression. Compared to the plant-oil-treated group, the DHA/EPA 1:1 group had a smaller atherosclerotic plaque area, higher serum HDL-C levels and lesser CD36 and MSR-1 mRNA expression; the DHA/EPA 2:1 group had lower serum TC, LDL-C and TNF-α levels and lower aortic ROS levels. Our study suggested that n3 PUFA from animals had more potent atheroprotective effects than that from plants. Supplementation involving higher DHA/EPA ratios and an n6/n3 ratio of 4:1 was beneficial for reducing serum "bad cholesterol" and a 1:1 DHA/EPA ratio with an n6/n3 ratio of 4:1 was beneficial for improving serum "good cholesterol" and inhibiting ox-LDL uptake. Our results suggest that achieving an n6/n3 ratio of 4:1 in the diet is also important in addition to having an optimal DHA/EPA ratio.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qinling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huihui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yihong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; School of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Processing of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: gongwhpu@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000070998:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D000070998:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 1; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005395:Fish Oils; D010938:Plant Oils; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger; D002787:Sterol Esterase; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; C577833:Abca1 protein, mouse; C487540:ABCG1 protein, mouse; C058216:perilla seed oil; C505054:lysosomal acid lipase, mouse
keywords: Alpha-linolenic acid; Atherosclerosis; DHA/EPA; Docosahexaenoic acid; Eicosapentaenoic acid; n3 PUFA