Early development of essential fatty acid deficiency in rats: Fat-free vs. hydrogenated coconut oil diet

Abstract

This study examined the effects of feeding an essential fatty acid deficient (EFAD) diet either without fat or with added hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) on fatty acid profiles in rats. Both diets induced equivalent biochemical evidence of EFAD reflected by the triene/tetraene ratio in plasma phospholipids within 2 weeks. However, the HCO diet led to larger increases of 16:1n7 and 18:1n9 in muscle but smaller increases in fat tissue and plasma triglycerides than the fat-free diet, suggesting greater increases in hepatic de novo lipogenesis with the latter. In addition, the HCO diet led to larger decreases of some 18:3n3 metabolites, particularly 22:6n3, in muscle, fat and brain tissues than the fat-free diet, presumably related to lesser stimulation of elongation and desaturation. Thus, these secondary effects of an EFAD diet on fatty acid metabolism can be modified by the saturated fat in the diet while the primary impact of both diets on development of EFAD is unaffected.

Dopaminergic cell populations of the rat substantia nigra are differentially affected by essential fatty acid dietary restriction over two generations

“…Recent evidence has indicated that a diet containing coconut oil as the only source of lipids can increase DHA depletion in the brain when compared to a fat free diet, even for a short term treatment (Ling et al, 2010). In the present study, the diet based on coconut oil and containing a linoleic/a-linolenic acid ratio of 16 resulted in lesser DHA levels ($50%) and increased the contents of some saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the midbrain phospholipids.…”

“…Considering these neurochemical differences, the present study investigated whether the dopaminergic cells of the SNcv would be more vulnerable than those from the SNrm to the effects of a diet commonly used to induce EFA deficiency, due its reduced levels of both linoleic and a-linolenic acids and high contents of saturated fatty acids (Deuel et al, 1954;Hargrave et al, 2005;Ling et al, 2010). We also investigated whether this dietary treatment over two generations could affect the amount of the dopaminesynthesizing enzyme in the ventral midbrain.…”

Effects of Dietary Trans Fatty Acids on Fat Accumulation and Metabolic Rate in Rat

“…Hepatic weight and TG content were significantly higher in the TFA group than in the control group, which might be caused by a slightly lower intake of dietary essential FAs, especially linoleic acid C18:2 cis . Deficiency or lack of dietary linoleic acid was reported to increase TG accumulation in rat liver 28 . According to other reports 29,30 , the minimal recommended intake of dietary linoleic acid and linolenic acid C18:3 to prevent essential FA deficiency is estimated at approximately 1 and 0.1 0.2 of total energy intake, respectively, in adult humans.…”

Inducing Effect of Clofibric Acid on Stearoyl‐CoA Desaturase in Intestinal Mucosa of Rats

“…The conclusion that Elovl6 along with SCD1 plays a crucial role in the regulation of 18:1n-9 formation is the same as that of Karahashi et al [37] and Marks et al [38], who showed the role of Elovl6 in the liver of Goto-Kakizaki rats and female rats, respectively. Previous studies demonstrated that fat-free diet feeding resulted in the up-regulation of SCD1 mRNA [39] and in the increase in the proportions of 16:1n-7 and 18:1n-9 in the liver [40]. Therefore, we attempted to compare the effect of clofibric acid treatment with that of fat-free diet feeding on MUFA synthesis in intestinal mucosa.…”