Dietary Borage Oil Promotes Gamma-linoleic Acid Accumulation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-treated Mice but Does not Manipulate the Severity of Colitis

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effect of borage oil (BO), which is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), on GLA accumulation in the bowel, and on the condition of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The results imply that dietary BO increased GLA accumulation in the liver and intestinal triglycerides (TG) and liver phospholipids (PL), whereas GLA accumulation in the intestinal PL was not significantly different between mice fed with BO and those with safflower oil diet. Although there were concerns about accumulation of arachidonic acid (AA) because it can be a substrate for the biosynthesis of proinflammatory eicosanoids, apparent AA accumulation in intestinal PL and exacerbation of colitis condition were not observed in BO groups. Taken together, it is considered that because of inefficient GLA accumulation in intestinal membrane, dietary BO did not manipulate DSS-induced colitis condition.