Abstract
In recent years consumption of canola oil has increased due to lower cost compared with olive oil and the perception that it shares its health benefits. However, no data are available on the effect of canola oil intake on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Herein, we investigated the effect of chronic daily consumption of canola oil on the phenotype of a mouse model of AD that develops both plaques and tangles (3xTg). To this end mice received either regular chow or a chow diet supplemented with canola oil for 6 months. At this time point we found that chronic exposure to the canola-rich diet resulted in a significant increase in body weight and impairments in their working memory together with decrease levels of post-synaptic density protein-95, a marker of synaptic integrity, and an increase in the ratio of insoluble Aβ 42/40. No significant changes were observed in tau phosphorylation and neuroinflammation. Taken together, our findings do not support a beneficial effect of chronic canola oil consumption on two important aspects of AD pathophysiology which includes memory impairments as well as synaptic integrity. While more studies are needed, our data do not justify the current trend aimed at replacing olive oil with canola oil.
Highlights
Epidemiological and clinical studies have consistently indicated that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and a reduced risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to AD1,2
We looked at some of the proteins that have been involved in Aβ clearance, but no significant differences were found between the two groups in the levels of apolipoprotein E (APOE), neprilysin (CD10) and insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) (Fig. 2D,E)
Since CREB and CREB-regulated proteins have been previously reported to be altered in AD pathology, we investigated the effect of the canola oil-rich diet on total CREB levels and its phosphorylated form at Ser[133]
Summary
Epidemiological and clinical studies have consistently indicated that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and AD, and a reduced risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to AD1,2. Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence would suggest some benefit for canola oil consumption, but results from studies implementing diets containing canola oil in experimental animal models have provided us with conflicting data[9,10]. No data are available on the effect that canola oil consumption may have on any of these models and the development of their phenotypes. For this reason, in the present paper we assessed the biological effect of chronic administration of a canola oil-rich diet on the 3xTg mice, which are known to develop both amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles[16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
