Dietary phytanic acid-induced changes in tissue fatty acid profiles in mice

Abstract

The aims of this research communication were to investigate the in vivo tissue accumulation of phytanic acid (PA) and any changes in the tissue fatty acid profiles in mice. Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that PA is a milk component with the potential to cause both beneficial effects on lipid and glucose metabolism and detrimental effects on neuronal cells. However, there is limited information about its in vivo actions. In this study, mice were fed diets containing either 0.00 or 0.05% 3RS, 7R, 11R-PA, which is the isomer found in milk and the human body. After 4 weeks, adipose tissue, liver and brain were harvested and their fatty acid profiles were determined by gas chromatographic analysis. The results showed that PA and its metabolite pristanic acid accumulated in the adipose tissue of PA-fed mice, and that dietary PA decreased the hepatic compositions of several saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid while increasing the compositions of polyunsaturated fatty acids including linoleic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. However, dietary PA neither accumulated nor had a high impact on the fatty acid profile in the brain. These results suggested that dietary PA could exert its biological activities in adipose tissue and liver, although the brain is relatively less affected by dietary PA. These data provide a basis for understanding the in vivo physiological actions of PA.

Naturally occurring phytanic acid exerts anti‐inflammatory effects in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis

“…Our previous study has shown that nPA can be detected in the mouse body when fed a diet containing 0.1% nPA for 4 weeks. [ 16 ] In the current study, a 0.05% intake group was established in addition to the 0.1% group to investigate the intake‐dependency in the anti‐inflammatory effects of nPA. However, the two diets showed different efficacies depending on the endpoint selected and no clear intake‐dependence effect was found between the two treatment groups.…”

“…However, it is important to note that the above studies investigating functional properties of phytanic acid have been limited to in vitro cell‐based models. Apart from our previous investigation into the issue accumulation of orally administered phytanic acid in mice, [ 16 ] there have been no reports evaluating health‐promoting effects of phytanic acid at the in vivo level. Further in vivo investigation using animal models of human disease will be required to determine the practical efficacy of phytanic acid.…”

Precision nutrition for targeting pathophysiology of cardiometabolic phenotypes

“…Moreover, pioglitazone selectively lowered the enrichment of the proinflammatory omega-6 lipid arachidonic acid in adipose cell membranes, without altering levels of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid, providing a novel mechanistic link between adipose expandability and systemic inflammation. Whether prospective natural ligands of PPARγ, such as branched chain fatty acids [ 163 ], represent a useful nutritional approach to combat visceral adiposity, especially in MUO phenotypes, requires further study.…”