Consumption of Different Sources of Omega‐3 Fatty Acids Alters Lipogenic Gene Expression in Growing Rats

Abstract

Currently, there is an increased intake of omega‐3 (n‐3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) through diet and supplementation. The objective of this study was to determine if the n‐3 PUFA source plays a role in de novo lipid metabolism by altering gene expression. Female Sprague‐Dawley rats were assigned to one of six diets: corn oil (CO), flaxseed oil (FO), krill oil (KO), menhaden oil (MO), salmon oil (SO), or tuna oil (TO). Most n −3 PUFA sources had decreased expression of hepatic lipogenic genes. Stearoyl CoA Desaturase 1 expression decreased in TO (P=0.04) and MO (P=0.008) compared to CO. Fatty Acid Synthase expression decreased in TO (P=0.006), SO (P=0.001), MO (P=0.001), and FO (P=0.01) compared to CO. Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1c expression decreased in MO (P=0.007) compared to CO. Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptor Alpha (PPAR α) was used as a measure of hepatic lipolysis, however, no differences were found. There were no significant changes in expression of lipogenic genes in gonadal tissue of n‐3 PUFA groups when compared to CO. In the gonadal tissue, PPARγ increased in FO (P=0.04) compared to CO, and Hormone Sensitive Lipase had no differences in expression compared to CO. These values suggest that n‐3 fatty acids may be altering de novo lipid metabolism by decreasing expression of lipogenic genes in liver tissue, and increasing expression of a lipolytic gene in gonadal tissue.Grant Funding Source: NIFA #1004489 and WVU Hatch Grant H459