Overfeeding of saturated fat and fructose induces alterations of hepatic fatty acid composition in rats (1142.10)

Abstract

Fatty acids (FAs) are essential components of lipids and exhibits important biological functions. The analysis of FAs profiles in tissues has become increasingly important as end points in understanding the roles of FAs in physiological or pathological processes. This study aimed to describe the changes in fatty acid composition of the liver lipids caused by excessive consumption of high saturated fat diet associated with fructose in Wistar rats. Rats were fed ad libitum with chow (3 Kcal/g; 2.3% soybean oil) or high‐fat diet (5.5 Kcal/g; 30% lard and 4% soybean oil) associated with fructose (100mg/mL) for 12 weeks. The lipids of liver homogenates were extracted with chloroform‐MeOH and the fatty acids methyl esters were analyzed by gas‐chromatography. Fatty acid composition of the liver was found to shift from a pattern dominated by saturated (SFA, C16:0), monounsaturated (MUFA, 18:1 n‐9) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA, C18:2 n‐6). Oleic acid (C18:1 n‐9) increased (approximately 36%, p=0.0001) whereas PUFA (C20:4 n‐6 and C22:6 n‐3) and SFA (18:0) decreased in the liver of animals fed with high saturated fat and fructose. This difference in the fatty acid profile in the liver is reflected in the increased MUFA/SFA ratio. The data indicated that the overfeeding of high saturated fat and fructose diets alter the hepatic fatty acid composition and the oleic acid is greatly accumulated in the liver.Grant Funding Source: FAPESP ‐ 2012/11050‐6