Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Rich Oils; Fish Oil and Perilla Oil on High-Fat Diet Fed DSS-Induced Colitis Mice

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease is increasing in newly developing countries, mainly awing to the westernization of the society. Consumption of high-fat diet has known to aggravate colitis. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to have several health benefits including anti-inflammatory effects and some studies have reported the effect of fish oil in experimental colitis. Perilla oil is obtained from the seeds of Perilla frutescens and is known to exert protective effects against obesity, inflammation and hepatic steatosis. We have previously shown that perilla oil has a similar effect like fish oil in high-fat diet induced colon inflammation. In this study, we wanted to investigate the effect fish oil and perilla oil on high-fat-fed, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Methods Six weeks old mice were divided into 4 groups; normal diet without DSS administration (ND), and three high-fat diet with DSS groups; control (HD + DSS), with fish oil supplementation (HDFO+DSS), with perilla oil supplementation (HDPO+DSS). The mice were fed with high-fat diet for 5 weeks prior to DSS administration by water for one week. The mice were sacrificed on the 7th day of DSS administration. Colon length and macroscopic score were measured. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum were measured. The stools of the mice were collected for microbial analysis. Results The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly reduced in FO and PO supplemented groups compared to HD + DSS. The colon length was reduced due to DSS administration compared to ND, and supplementation with FO and PO improved colon length and macroscopic score. Number of Enterobacteriaceae was higher in all DSS administered groups. However, FO and PO treated groups had significantly reduced Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusions The results of this study showed that fish oil and perilla oil exert protective effect against high-fat diet fed DSS-induced colitis. Both fish oil and perilla oil action on colon protection is similar. The experiments to confirm the mechanism of action which includes mRNA and protein analysis are ongoing. Funding Sources This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (Ministry of Education).