Effects of simultaneous docosahexaenoic acid and catechin intakes on the plasma and liver lipids in low- and high-fat diet fed mice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the synergistic effects of fish oil and tea components on plasma and liver lipids in mice fed low- and high-fat diets. Male mice (5 months old) were fed for 4 months on low (5%) or high (20%) fat diets containing 0%, 0.1%, or 1% docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA-EE) either with or without 0.03% catechin. The plasma total cholesterol (T-Chol) content of mice fed the 1% DHA-EE + 0.03% catechin diet was the lowest among the experimental low-fat diet groups. The plasma total and free cholesterol and phospholipids were significantly lower in the mice fed 1% DHA-EE + 0.03% catechin diet than in animals fed 1% DHA-EE or 0.03% catechin diets. However, there were no marked differences in the plasma and liver lipid components between any of the experimental high-fat diet groups. In mice fed either the low- or high-fat diet, plasma and liver DHA percentages rose with the increasing of DHA-EE supplementation, while the catchins supplementation hardly influenced the plasma and liver fatty acid composition. These results suggest that simultaneous intakes of DHA and catechins may be effective in the improving plasma lipid levels in animals fed low-fat diet.