Enriched functional milk fat ameliorates glucose intolerance and triacylglycerol accumulation in skeletal muscle of rats fed high-fat diets.

PURPOSE: We examined the effect of a functional milk fat (FMF) on the glucose metabolism and its association with the intramuscular triacylglycerol (TAG) content in rats fed high-fat diets. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were fed for 60 days with S7 (soybean oil 7%), S30 (soybean oil 30%), MF30 (soybean oil 3% + milk fat 27%), or FMF30 (soybean oil 3% + FMF 27%) diets. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed. The levels of key metabolites in gastrocnemius muscle and mRNA levels of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in muscle, epididymal white adipose tissue (EWAT), and serum were assessed. RESULTS: The S30 diet induced glucose intolerance and led to TAG, citrate, and glucose accumulation in muscle. Moreover, we observed a downregulation of uncoupling proteins (Ucp2 and Ucp3) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (Irs1) genes, lower carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1b (CPT-1b), and phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) activities in muscle and lower expression of adiponectin (Adipoq) in EWAT. The FMF30 diet ameliorated the glucose intolerance and normalized the glucose and TAG levels in muscle, preventing the accumulation of citrate and enhancing glucose utilization by the PFK1. The beneficial effects might also be related to the higher expression of Adipoq in EWAT, its receptor in muscle (Adipor1), and the expression of Ucp2, Ucp3, and Irs1 in muscle, restoring the alterations observed with the S30 diet. CONCLUSIONS: FMF30 modulated key genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle, improving the glucose utilization and preventing TAG, glucose, and citrate accumulation.

Maternal conjugated linoleic acid consumption prevented TAG alterations induced by a high-fat diet in male adult rat offspring.

Maternal nutritional programming by a high-fat (HF) diet is related to hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis in offspring. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) might ameliorate impaired hepatic lipid homoeostasis; therefore, the aim was to investigate the potential preventive effect of maternal CLA consumption on TAG metabolism alterations induced by HF diets in adult male rat offspring receiving or not receiving CLA. Female Wistar rats were fed a control (C) diet, HF diet or HF diet supplemented with CLA (HF+CLA) for 4 weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, for 9 weeks, male offspring of C or HF rats continued with the same diets as their mothers (C/C or HF/HF groups, respectively) and male offspring of HF+CLA rats were fed HF or HF+CLA diets (HF+CLA/HF or HF+CLA/HF+CLA groups, respectively). Nutritional parameters, serum and liver TAG levels, the TAG secretion rate (TAG-SR) and the activities as well as gene expression of key hepatic enzymes involved in TAG regulation were assessed. The most interesting results were that maternal CLA decreased epididymal white adipose tissue weight and prevented serum and liver TAG accumulation induced by a HF diet in adult male offspring receiving or not receiving CLA. The prevention of liver steatosis in HF+CLA/HF+CLA and HF+CLA/HF offspring was associated with an increased hepatic TAG-SR. Overall, this study provides evidence that maternal CLA consumption programmes TAG regulation and in this way contributes to lowering lipid levels in tissues and preventing liver steatosis in particular.

N-3 fatty acids reduced trans fatty acids retention and increased docosahexaenoic acid levels in the brain.

INTRODUCTION: The levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) are critical for the normal structure and function of the brain. Trans fatty acids (TFA) and the source of the dietary fatty acids (FA) interfere with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TFA supplementation in diets containing different proportions of n-9, n-6, and n-3 FA on the brain FA profile, including the retention of TFA, LC-PUFA levels, and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios. These parameters were also investigated in the liver, considering that LC-PUFA are mainly bioconverted from their dietary precursors in this tissue and transported by serum to the brain. Also, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) gene expressions were evaluated. METHODS: Male CF1 mice were fed (16 weeks) diets containing different oils (olive, corn, and rapeseed) with distinct proportions of n-9, n-6, and n-3 FA (55.2/17.2/0.7, 32.0/51.3/0.9, and 61.1/18.4/8.6), respectively, substituted or not with 0.75% of TFA. FA composition of the brain, liver, and serum was assessed by gas chromatography. RESULTS: TFA were incorporated into, and therefore retained in the brain, liver, and serum. However, the magnitude of retention was dependent on the tissue and type of isomer. In the brain, total TFA retention was lower than 1% in all diets. DISCUSSION: Dietary n-3 PUFA decreased TFA retention and increased DHA accretion in the brain. The results underscore the importance of the type of dietary FA on the retention of TFA in the brain and also on the changes of the FA profile.

Saturated and trans fatty acids content in unpackaged traditional bakery products in Santa Fe city, Argentina: nutrition labeling relevance.

Studies have reported the relationship between the excessive intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans fatty acids (t-FA) and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Since 2006, the MERCOSUR countries require that the mandatory nutrition labeling should include information not only about the content of SFA but also about the content of t-FA. This does not apply to fractionated products at the point of retail, such as bakery products. This paper aimed to determine the total fat content and the fatty acid profile in unpackaged traditional bakery products (breads, biscuits and pastries) in Santa Fe, Argentina. Except for French bread, the contribution of t-FA and SFA to the total FA consumption from baked products was high. On the other hand, due to the high variability detected in the FA composition of bakery products between bakeries, it would be necessary to implement regulations making nutrition labeling mandatory in these products.

The effects of trans-fatty acids on TAG regulation in mice depend on dietary unsaturated fatty acids.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of trans-fatty acids (TFA) on liver and serum TAG regulation in mice fed diets containing different proportions of n-3, n-6 and n-9 unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) from olive (O), maize (C) or rapeseed (R) oils partially substituted or not with TFA (Ot, Ct and Rt, respectively). Male CF1 mice were fed (30 d) one of these diets. The effects of the partial substitution (1 %, w/w) of different UFA with TFA on the activity and expression of hepatic enzymes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acids oxidation were evaluated, as well as their transcription factor expressions. Some of the mechanisms involved in the serum TAG regulation, hepatic VLDL rich in TAG (VLDL-TAG) secretion rate and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity were assessed. In liver, TFA induced an increase in TAG content in the Ot and Rt groups, and this effect was associated with an imbalance between lipogenesis and ß-oxidation. In the Ot group, exacerbated lipogenesis may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the liver steatosis induced by TFA, whereas in Rt it has been related to a decreased ß-oxidation, compared with their respective controls. The enhanced hepatic VLDL-TAG secretion in the Ot and Rt groups was compensated with a differential removal of TAG by LPL enzyme in extrahepatic tissues, leading to unchanged serum TAG levels. In brief, the effects of low levels of TFA on liver and serum TAG regulation in mice depend on the dietary proportions of n-3, n-6 and n-9 UFA.

Nutriomic effects of precision lipids on murine hepatic triacylglycerol alterations induced by high-fat diets.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate if a mixture of functional lipids (FL), containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), tocopherols (TP) and phytosterols (PS) prevents some lipid alterations induced by high-fat (HF) diets, without adverse effects. METHODS: Male CF1 mice (n=6/group) were fed (4 weeks) with: control (C), HF or HF+FL diets. RESULTS: FL prevented the overweight induced by the HF diet, and reduced the adipose tissues (AT) weight, associated with lower energy efficiency. After the intervention period, the serum triacylglycerol (TAG) levels, in both HF diets underwent a decrease associated with an enhanced LPL activity (mainly in muscle). The beneficial effect of the FL mixture on body weight gain and AT weight, might be attributed to the decreased lipogenesis, denoted by the lower mRNA levels of SREBP1-c and ACC in AT, as well as, by an exacerbated lipid catabolism, reflected by increased mRNA levels of PPARα, ATGL, HSL and UCP2 in adipose tissue. Liver TAG levels were reduced in the HF+FL group due to an elevated lipid oxidation associated with a higher CPT-1 activity and mRNA levels of PPARα and CPT-1a. Moreover, genes linked to fatty acid biosynthesis (SREBP1-c and ACC) showed decreased mRNA levels in both HF diets, this finding being more pronounced in the HF+FL group. CONCLUSION: The administration of a FL mixture (CLA+TP+PS) prevented some lipid alterations induced by a HF diet, avoiding frequent deleterious effects of CLA in mice through the modulation of gene expression related to the regulation of lipid metabolism.

Fatty acid metabolism in liver and muscle is strongly modulated by photoperiod in Fischer 344 rats.

Circadian and seasonal variations produce variations in physiological processes throughout the day and the year, respectively. In this sense, both the light and the moment of feeding are strong modulators of the central and peripheral clocks. However, little is known about its influence on certain metabolic parameters and on the composition of liver and muscle fatty acids (FA). In the present study, 24 Fischer 344 rats were exposed for 11 weeks to different photoperiods, L6, L12 and L18, with 6, 12 and 18 h of light/day, respectively. They were fed a standard diet. Serum metabolic parameters, gene expression of liver enzymes and gastrocnemius muscle involved in the synthesis, elongation, desaturation and ß-oxidation of FA were analyzed. We have found that exposure to different hours of light has a clear effect on FA composition and gene expression in the liver. Mainly, the biosynthesis of unsaturated FA was altered in the L18 animals with respect to those exposed to L12, while the L6 did not show significant changes. At the muscle level, differences were observed in the concentration of mono and polyunsaturated FA. A multivariate analysis confirmed the differences between L12 and L18 in a significant way. We conclude that exposure to long days produces changes in the composition of liver and muscle FA, as well as changes in the gene expression of oxidative enzymes compared to exposure to L12, which could be a consequence of different seasonal eating patterns.

TRANS FATTY ACIDS MODIFY NUTRITIONAL PARAMETERS AND TRIACYLGLYCEROL METABOLISM IN RATS: DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS AT RECOMMENDED AND HIGH-FAT LEVELS.

INTRODUCTION: there is still little evidence on the metabolic trans fatty acids (TFA) effects at recommended fat levels. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the differential TFA effects on some nutritional parameters, TFA retention, and triacylglycerol (TAG) regulation in rats fed recommended and high-fat diets. METHODS: male Wistar rats were fed (30 days) diets containing recommended (7%,w/w) or high-fat (20%,w/w) levels, supplemented or not with TFA (C7, C20, TFA7 and TFA20). RESULTS: TFA7 (vs.C7) rats showed an increased body weight associated with higher fat pads and liver and serum TAG. The hypertriacylglyceridaemia was related to a decreased muscle LPL activity, while the higher hepatic TAG content was associated with both an increased SREBP-1c gene expression and ACC activity, and a reduced CPT-Ia gene expression. The TFA20 diet did not potentiate the higher body weight, fat pads and TAG levels induced by the C20 diet. Although the hepatic TAG-secretion rate (TAG-SR) increased by TFA20 vs. C20, the same triacylglyceridaemia was associated with a compensatory increase of the adipose tissue LPL activity. The attenuated hepatic TAG accretion in TFA20 was related to an increase of TAG-SR and to a lower increase of SREBP-1c and SCD1 mRNA expressions, paralleled to a relative decrease of SCD1 index and ACC activity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: TFA alters nutritional parameters and lipid metabolism in rats. However, different responses to the TFA on TAG levels and their regulation were observed between rats fed recommended and high-fat diets. These divergences might be related to different tissue TFA retentions and rumenic acid bioconversion.

Introducción: existen escasas evidencias sobre los efectos metabólicos de los AGT a niveles recomendados de grasa. Objetivo: investigar los efectos diferenciales de los ácidos grasos trans (TFA) sobre parámetros nutricionales, retención de TFA y regulación de triacilglicéridos (TAG) en ratas alimentadas con niveles recomendados o elevados de grasa. Métodos: ratas macho Wistar fueron alimentadas (30 días) con dietas que contenían un 7% o 20% de grasas suplementadas o no con TFA (C7-C20-TFA7-TFA20). Resultados: TFA7 (vs. C7) incrementó el peso corporal asociado a mayores panículos adiposos y TAG. La hipertriacilgliceridemia fue relacionada con una menor actividad LPL muscular, y el incrementado TAG hepático con una elevada expresión génica de SREBP-1c y actividad ACC, y reducida expresión génica de CPT-Ia. Los TFA no potenciaron los elevados pesos corporales, los panículos adiposos y los TAG inducidos por C20. Aunque la secreción hepática de TAG (TAG-SR) incrementó en TFA20 vs. C20, la similar triacilgliceridemia fue asociada a un compensatorio incremento de la actividad LPL en tejido adiposo. La atenuada acumulación hepática de TAG en TFA20 estuvo relacionada con una incrementada TAG-SR y un menor incremento de la expresión génica de SREBP-1c y SCD1, paralela a un relativo descenso del índice SCD1 y de la actividad ACC. Discusión y conclusión: los TFA alteran los parámetros nutricionales y lipídicos en ratas. Sin embargo, diferentes respuestas sobre los niveles y regulación de los TAG por los TFA fueron observadas entre ratas alimentadas con niveles recomendados y elevados de grasa dietaria. Estas divergencias pueden estar relacionadas con diferentes retenciones de TFA y su bioconversión a ácido ruménico.

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid mixtures and different edible oils in body composition and lipid regulation in mice.

INTRODUCTION: Evidences suggest that commercial and natural conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) differentially affect nutritional status and lipid metabolism. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential effect of two types of CLA preparations supplemented to dietary fats containing different proportions of n-9, n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (FA) on body composition, triacylglycerol (TG) levels and lipid metabolism in mice. METHODS: Growing mice were fed diets containing olive, maize and rapeseed oils supplemented with an equimolecular mixture of CLA (mix-CLA) or a rumenic acid (RA)-rich oil for 30 days. Body weight gain, carcass composition, tissue weights, plasma and tissue TG levels, and lipid regulation parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: Independently of the dietary fats, mix-CLA decreased body weight gain and fat depots related to lower energy efficiency, hepatomegaly, increase of serum TG and decrease of muscle TG. Rapeseed oil prevented the hepatic steatosis observed with mix-CLA supplementation to olive and maize oils by increasing TG secretion. RA-rich oil supplementation decreased fat depots without hepatomegaly, hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia. Olive oil, by an equilibrium between FA uptake/oxidation, prevented the increase of muscle TG induced by the RA-rich oil supplementation to maize and rapeseed oils. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The proportions of dietary unsaturated FA modulated the different mix-CLA and RA-rich oil response to lipid metabolism in mice. Finally, rapeseed oil prevented the hepatic steatosis induced by mix-CLA, and the most beneficial effects of RA-rich oil were observed when supplemented to olive oil, due to the reduced lipid accretion without changes in TG levels.

Introducción: Las evidencias sugieren que las mezclas de Ácido Linoleico Conjugado (ALC) de origen comercial o natural diferencialmente afectan diferencialment al estado nutricional y al metabolismo lipídico. Objetivo: Investigar el efecto de dos preparaciones de ALC como complemento de grasas dietarias con diferentes proporciones de ácidos grasos (AG) n-9, n-6 y n-3 sobre composición corporal, niveles de triacilglicéridos (TG) y metabolismo lipídico en ratones. Métodos: Se alimentó a ratones en crecimiento con dietas con aceite de oliva, maíz y canola, o colza suplementadas con una mezcla equimolecular de ALC (mezcla-ALC) o aceites ricos en ácido ruménico (AR) por 30 días. Se evaluó: ganancia de peso, composición corporal, peso de tejidos, niveles de TG plasmáticos y séricos, y parámetros de regulación lipídica. Resultados: Independientemente de las grasas dietarias, la mezcla-ALC redujo el peso corporal y depósitos grasos relacionados con hepatomegalia, incremento de TG séricos y descenso de TG musculares. El aceite de canola previno la esteatosis hepática producida por la mezcla-ALC a aceites de oliva y maíz por incremento de la secreción de TG. AR decreció los depósitos grasos sin hepatomegalia, esteatosis hepática e hipertrigliceridemia. Aceite de oliva previno el incremento de TG musculares inducidos por suplementación con AR al aceite de maíz y canola. Discusión y conclusión: Las proporciones de AG insaturados dietarios modularon la respuesta de mezcla-ALC y AR al metabolismo lipídico en ratones. Finalmente, aceite de canola previno la esteatosis hepática inducida por mezcla-ALC, y los efectos benéficos más notorios fueron observados cuando aceite de oliva fue suplementado con AR, debido a la reducida acreción de lípidos sin cambios en los niveles de TG.