Reduction in Plasma Glucose after Lipid Changes in Mice Fed Fish Oil, Docosahexaenoic Acid, and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Diets

Abstract

Background/Aim: Effects of the dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and fish oil on weekly changes in plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and phospholipid concentrations of male Crlj:CD-1 mice were investigated. Method: Animals were fed five different experimental diets which contained 6.0% lard (lard diet), 6.0% fish oil (fish oil diet), 1.5% DHA-ethyl ester + 4.5% lard (DHA diet), 0.4% EPA-ethyl ester + 5.6% lard (EPA diet), and 1.5% DHA-ethyl ester + 0.4% EPA ethyl ester + 4.1% lard (DHA+EPA diet) for 17 weeks. Glucose and lipid concentrations in plasma collected at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 were measured. Results: Plasma phospholipid concentrations were significantly lower in mice fed the fish oil and DHA+EPA diets than in those fed the lard diet at week 2. Plasma total cholesterol and glucose concentrations were significantly lower in the fish oil diet group than in the lard diet group at weeks 6 and 8, respectively. Conclusion: These results indicate that the decreases in plasma glucose concentrations in response to intakes of DHA and EPA in mice take place over a longer period of time than similar decreases in the plasma lipid concentrations.

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplementation alters select physiological endocannabinoid-system metabolites in brain and plasma

“…Whether brain or circulating triacylglycerol levels are modifi ed by our dietary DHAenrichment regime remains to be explored. A longer period of DHA supplementation may be required, as suggested by the demonstration that -3-rich diets can lower plasma triacylglycerol (usually by 10-20%) in various strains of healthy mice but only after 4-16 weeks of supplemental -3 fatty acid intake (59)(60)(61).…”

Regulation of intestinal NPC1L1 expression by dietary fish oil and docosahexaenoic acid

“…Polyenoic fatty acids derived from fish oil (n-3 fatty acids) have been shown to decrease cholesterol absorption (20)(21)(22) and reduce plasma cholesterol in both animal models and humans (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29). The mechanism for how fish oil-derived fatty acids interfere with cholesterol absorption is not clear.…”

Regulation of Lipid Metabolism by Palmitoleate and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

“…In previous studies, TG levels of in the livers of lard-fed mice increased or unchanged compared with those in fish oil-fed mice. 6,7,[14][15][16][17] Furthermore, several recent studies have found that accumulations of TG and fatty acid metabolites such as fatty acyl-CoA, DAG, ceramide, and glycosphingolipid are associated with hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. [18][19][20] As for DAG, it has been reported that DAG levels were higher in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).…”

“…However, recent studies have found that the effects of fish oil on metabolic disorders are not limited to those of DHA and EPA. [5][6][7] A relatively high amount of palmitoleate (C16:1) is present in fish oil compared with other oils and foods. Thus, palmitoleate as well as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids might play roles in improving lipid metabolism by fish oil.…”