Abstract
An adequate pancreatic structure is necessary for optimal organ function. Structural changes are critical in the development of age-related pancreatic disorders. In this context, it has been reported that different pancreatic compartments from rats were affected according to the fat composition consumed. Since there is a close relationship between mitochondria, oxidative stress and aging, an experimental approach has been developed to gain more insight into this process in the pancreas. A low dosage of coenzyme Q was administered life-long in rats in order to try to prevent pancreatic aging-related alterations associated to some dietary fat sources. According to that, three groups of rats were fed normocaloric diets containing Coenzyme Q (CoQ) for two years, where virgin olive, sunflower, or fish oil was included as unique fat source. Pancreatic samples for microscopy and blood samples were collected at the moment of euthanasia. The main finding is that CoQ supplementation gives different results according to fat used in diet. When sunflower oil was the main fat in the diet, CoQ supplementation seems to improve endocrine pancreas structure and in particular β-cell mass resembling positive effects of virgin olive oil. Conversely, CoQ intake does not seem to improve the structural alterations of exocrine compartment previously observed in fish oil fed rats. Therefore CoQ may improve pancreatic alterations associated to the chronic intake of some dietary fat sources.
Highlights
The pancreas is a key organ in nutrient digestion as well as in nutrient utilization
Regarding dietary fat type in the aged pancreas, we have previously reported the effects of life-long feeding rats with virgin olive, sunflower or fish oil on the endocrine function and histology of the pancreas [19]
According to the above-mentioned variations in pancreas structure and function after lifelong feeding on different dietary fats, and the potentially beneficial effects on these aspects by Coenzyme Q (CoQ) supplementation, the present study was designed with the aim to compare three groups of rats maintained for two years with isocaloric diets containing as the only dietary fat virgin olive (VOO), sunflower (SO) or fish oils (FO), all of them supplemented with CoQ
Summary
The pancreas is a key organ in nutrient digestion as well as in nutrient utilization. Secretory activity in response to food was greater in dogs fed on a diet rich in sunflower oil than in animals given the same diet with virgin olive oil [16,17] These authors, working on rats found that chronic intake of diets differing only in the type of fat (olive oil or sunflower oil) influences the fatty acid profile of pancreatic cell membranes; with rats fed the olive oil diet showing higher levels of oleic acid, whereas those fed sunflower oil had increased linoleic acid and PUFA n-6 contents. According to the above-mentioned variations in pancreas structure and function after lifelong feeding on different dietary fats, and the potentially beneficial effects on these aspects by CoQ supplementation, the present study was designed with the aim to compare three groups of rats maintained for two years with isocaloric diets containing as the only dietary fat virgin olive (VOO), sunflower (SO) or fish oils (FO), all of them supplemented with CoQ
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