Bioconversion of α-linolenic acid to n-3 LCPUFA and expression of PPAR-alpha, acyl coenzyme A oxidase 1 and carnitine acyl transferase I are incremented after feeding rats with α-linolenic acid-rich oils

• Published in: Food & function Vol. 3; no. 7; pp. 765 - 772
• Main Authors: González-Mañán, Daniel, Tapia, Gladys, Gormaz, Juan Guillermo, D'Espessailles, Amanda, Espinosa, Alejandra, Masson, Lilia, Varela, Patricia, Valenzuela, Alfonso, Valenzuela, Rodrigo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2012
• Subjects: Acyl-CoA Oxidase - genetics; Acyl-CoA Oxidase - metabolism; Acyltransferase; Adipose tissue; alpha-Linolenic Acid - administration & dosage; alpha-Linolenic Acid - metabolism; Animals; bioconversion; Biotransformation; Carnitine; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase - genetics; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase - metabolism; Coenzyme A; Dietary intake; Fatty acid composition; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Feeding; Helianthus; Humans; Lipids; Liver; Oils; Phospholipids; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; Plant Oils - metabolism; Polymerase chain reaction; PPAR alpha - genetics; PPAR alpha - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rosa; Rosa - chemistry; Salvia - chemistry; Salvia hispanica; Up-Regulation; Western blotting
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/c2fo30012e

High dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids in relation to n-3 fatty acids may generate health disorders, such as cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Fish consumption rich in n-3 fatty acids is low in Latin America, it being necessary to seek other alternatives to provide α-linolenic acid (ALA), precursor of n-3 LCPUFA (EPA and DHA). Two innovative oils were assayed, chia ( Salvia hispanica ) and rosa mosqueta ( Rosa rubiginosa ). This study evaluated hepatic bioconversion of ALA to EPA and DHA, expression of PPAR-α, acyl-Coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1) and carnitine acyltransferase I (CAT-I), and accumulation of EPA and DHA in plasma and adipose tissue in Sprague-Dawley rats. Three experimental groups were fed 21 days: sunflower oil (SFO, control); chia oil (CO); rosa mosqueta oil (RMO). Fatty acid composition of total lipids and phospholipids from plasma, hepatic and adipose tissue was assessed by gas-liquid chromatography and TLC. Expression of PPAR-α (RT-PCR) and ACOX1 and CAT-I (Western blot). CO and RMO increased plasma, hepatic and adipose tissue levels of ALA, EPA and DHA and decreased n-6 : n-3 ratio compared to SFO ( p < 0.05, One-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls test). CO increased levels of ALA and EPA compared to RMO ( p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for DHA levels. CO also increased the expression of PPAR-α, ACOX1 and CAT-I. Only CAT-I levels were increased by RO. CO and RMO may be a nutritional alternative to provide ALA for its bioconversion to EPA and DHA, and to increase the expression of PPAR-α, ACOX1 and CAT-I, especially CO-oil. High dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids in relation to n-3 fatty acids may generate health disorders, such as cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.