Less body fat accumulation in rats fed a safflower oil diet than in rats fed a beef tallow diet

The effects on body fat accumulation of long-term feeding of high fat diets of differing fatty acid composition were studied in rats. The rats were meal-fed isoenergetic diets based on safflower oil or beef tallow for 4 mo. Each diet was freshly prepared every day throughout the experimental period. Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production for 6 h after meals were measured between the 50th and 54th d of the experimental period. Oxygen consumption for 3 h after meals was significantly greater in the safflower oil diet group than in the beef tallow diet group, indicating greater diet-induced thermogenesis in the former group. From the assessment of respiratory quotient, the fat oxidation rate was also higher in the former. After the experimental period (4 mo), body fat accumulation was significantly less in the rats fed safflower oil. This difference was, at least in part, ascribed to increased diet-induced thermogenesis and fat oxidation. Serum triacylglycerol level was markedly lower in the rats fed safflower oil than in those fed beef tallow. The lipoprotein lipase activities in heart and soleus muscle after meals appeared to be higher in the former than in the latter. These results suggest that the consumption of the safflower oil diet increased lipoprotein lipase activity in heart and skeletal muscle, resulting in the elevation of fat oxidation rate and the depression of serum triacylglycerol level.     

Dietary n-3 fatty acids affect mRNA level of brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein 1, and white adipose tissue leptin and glucose transporter 4 in the rat

We examined the effect of dietary fats rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on mRNA levels in white and brown adipose tissues in rats. Four groups of rats were fed on a low-fat diet (20 g safflower oil/kg) or a high-fat diet (200 g/kg) containing safflower oil, which is rich in n-6 PUFA (linoleic acid), or perilla (alpha-linolenic acid) or fish oil (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids), both of which are rich in n-3 PUFA, for 21 d. Energy intake was higher in rats fed on a high-safflower-oil diet than in those fed on low-fat or high-fish-oil diet, but no other significant differences were detected among the groups. Perirenal white adipose tissue weight was higher and epididymal white adipose tissue weight tended to be higher in rats fed on a high-safflower-oil diet than in those fed on a low-fat diet. However, high-fat diets rich in n-3 PUFA, compared to a low-fat diet, did not increase the white adipose tissue mass. High-fat diets relative to a low-fat diet increased brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein 1 mRNA level. The increases were greater with fats rich in n-3 PUFA than with n-6 PUFA. A high-safflower-oil diet, compared to a low-fat diet, doubled the leptin mRNA level in white adipose tissue. However, high-fat diets rich in n-3 PUFA failed to increase it. Compared to a low-fat diet, high-fat diets down-regulated the glucose transporter 4 mRNA level in white adipose tissue. However, the decreases were attenuated with high-fat diets rich in n-3 PUFA. It is suggested that the alterations in gene expression in adipose tissue contribute to the physiological activities of n-3 PUFA in preventing body fat accumulation and in regulating glucose metabolism in rats.     

Olive oil feeding up-regulates uncoupling protein genes in rat brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle

BACKGROUND: Some nutrients, such as carotenoids, retinoic acid, and certain types of fatty acids, increase thermogenic capacity. OBJECTIVE: The influence of 4 dietary lipid sources (olive oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, and beef tallow) on the content of uncoupling proteins 1, 2, and 3 (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) and their messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in several tissues of rats was compared. DESIGN: Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed ad libitum diets containing 40% of energy as fat. UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA and protein were assessed by Northern blot and Western blot, respectively. Oxygen consumption in tissues was measured by polarography. Total-body oxygen consumption was assessed in an open-circuit chamber system. Circulating fuels (fatty acids and glucose) and hormones (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, corticosterone, and insulin) were measured. RESULTS: Olive oil feeding induced the highest UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA expression in interscapular brown adipose tissue. An analogous effect was observed in gastrocnemius muscle UCP3 mRNA. No significant differences were observed in perirenal white adipose tissue UCP2 mRNA. Changes in mRNAs were not accompanied by close changes in the protein content of UCPs and were not associated with changes in adipose tissue oxygen consumption. Nevertheless, total-body oxygen consumption was higher in rats fed olive oil than in those fed the other 3 diets. No significant differences were found in body and tissue weights or in serum indexes. CONCLUSION: Olive oil induced an up-regulating effect on UCP mRNA that was probably not mediated by systemic metabolic changes, but rather related to a local effect on interscapular brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.     

Lipid metabolism responses in rats fed beef tallow, native or randomized fish oil and native or randomized peanut oil

In experiments with male Wistar rats, we measured the effects of nonpurified diets containing 9.1% added fat (beef tallow, native or randomized fish oil, native or randomized peanut oil) on apparent digestibility of total fat and individual fatty acids. We also investigated the effects of the diets on plasma contents of triglyceride, cholesterolesters and free and total cholesterol as well as on the fatty acid profiles of plasma and liver phospholipids. Randomization of fish oil or peanut oil had no significant effect on any of the lipid measurements. Fat digestibility was significantly lower in the rats fed beef tallow. Apparent absorption of 18:1(n-9) and polyunsaturated fatty acids was not dependent on the fatty acid profile of the dietary fat. Apparent absorption of 16:1(n-7) and saturated fatty acids was generally highest in the rats fed fish oil. Intake of fish oil or peanut oil significantly decreased plasma triglyceride content. Intake of fish oil resulted in substantially decreased contents of total cholesterol and cholesterolesters in plasma, but intake of peanut oil did not. Efficiency of conversion of 18:2(n-6) into 20:4(n-6) was inhibited by long-chain (n-3) fatty acids.     

Changes in UCP family expressions in rat tissues due to diet and aging

Regulation of the gene expressions of uncoupling proteins (UCP)-1, 2 and 3 was investigated in the white and brown adipose tissues and skeletal muscle of young and old rats (8-wk- and 8-mo-old, respectively) fed diets containing various fats (hydrogenated fat, corn oil or fish oil) and proteins (casein or soybean) for 1 wk. The mRNA expressions of UCP-1, 2 and 3 were elevated in the white adipose tissues of the young rats fed soybean protein as compared to those fed casein, and that of UCP-2 was also elevated in the brown adipose tissue. The effects of dietary fat type on the expressions were not clear. The UCP-1, 2 and 3 mRNA expressions were markedly reduced in the tissues of the old rats. The UCP-2 expressions were more markedly elevated by dietary soybean protein and reduced by aging than the others, particularly in the white adipose tissue. The expressions of leptin involved in thermogenesis were also reduced by aging. Moreover, in a fasted-refed experiment conducted for the young rats, UCP-2 mRNA induction in the white adipose tissues reached maximal levels at 1 or 2 h and was stimulated by dietary fat or soybean protein. Thus, UCP-2 mRNA expression was markedly affected by diet and aging, particularly in white adipose tissue.     

Effect of type and amount of dietary fat on concentration of cholesterol in blood plasma and tissues of rabbits

Rabbits were fed skim milk-based diets containing by weight either 14% soybean oil, 28% soybean oil, 14% tallow or 28% tallow. A control group was fed a commerical stock diet. Plasma cholesterol concentration was monitored for 10 weeks, after which cholesterol concentrations of liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, brain, heart, aorta, kidney, skin and intestinal mucosa were determined. Feeding soybean oil diets (relatively high content of polyunsaturated fat by acids) resulted in lesser concentrations of cholesterol in blood plasma than did feeding tallow diets (greater content of saturated fatty acids). Conversely, cholesterol contents were greater in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, heart, aorta, kidney, skin and intestinal mucosa of rabbits fed soybean oil diets. Cholesterol contents of liver and brain were unaffected by type of dietary fat. Our results demonstrate that the degree of saturation of fat in a milk-based diet of rabbits will influence the partitioning of cholesterol between the blood and several other tissues and organs.     

Linoleate enrichment of diet and prostaglandin metabolism in rats.

Evidence that biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PG) in tissues of animals deficient in essential fatty acids is dependent on the availability of their precursors has been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine the following: (1) effects of dietary linoleate enrichment on PG biosynthesis in rats; (2) effects of exogenous PGE2 and dietary linoleate on plasma free fatty acids and serum cholesterol in fed and fasted rats. Rats were fed three different concentrations of dietary linoleate as beef tallow, hydrogenated vegetable fat, or corn oil. The concentrations of PGE1 and PGF2a measured by radioimmunoassay were higher in rats fed the fed the beef tallow diet independent of energy status. A decrease in the concentration of PG between fasted and fed rats receiving hydrogenated vegetable fat is discussed in respect to the possible influence of trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids on the biosynthesis of PG. There were significant effects of fasting on serum cholesterol concentration regardless of diet and significant interactions among effects of PGE2, fasting, and diet, suggesting regulatory effects of PGE2 on serum cholesterol concentration. The increase in plasma free fatty acids associated with fasting was prevented by PGE2 for all diets, but had the most marked effect on rats fed hydrogenated vegetable fat.     

Dimethylbenzanthracene mammary tumorigenesis in sprague-dawley rats fed diets differing in content of beef tallow or rapeseed oil

Female Sprague-Dawley rats fed purified diets containing 5% or 20% fat as beef tallow or rapeseed oil plus corn oil were given 2.5 mg 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene intragastrically at age 55 days. Mammary tumorigenesis was not significantly increased in rats fed diets high in beef tallow or rapeseed oil compared to rats fed 5% fat. In earlier studies in rats fed similar diets containing corn oil or lard, mammary tumorigenesis was enhanced by the high fat diets. These results indicate that dietary fats vary in their ability to increase mammary tumorigenesis in rats.In addition, body weight, feed efficiency ratios, sexual maturation, and estrous cycles were examined. High erucic acid rapeseed oil did not support growth as well as beef tallow, and feed efficiency ratios were decreased in animals fed the higher amount of the oil. There was no significant dietary fat effect on age at vaginal opening or regularity or duration of estrous cycles.     

Detrimental effects of a high fat diet in early renal injury are ameliorated by fish oil in Han:SPRD-cy rats

Dietary fish oils containing (n-3) fatty acids can modulate renal inflammatory injury. We previously demonstrated that a high fat (HF) diet worsens early renal disease progression in the Han:SPRD-cy rat model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Therefore, using HF (20 g/100 g diet) and low fat (LF; 5 g/100 g diet) diets, we compared the effects of menhaden oil (MO), soybean oil (SO) and cottonseed oil (CO) on renal function and histology in male Han:SPRD-cy rats fed the diets for 6 wk in the early stages of renal disease. Overall, rats fed HF compared with those fed LF diets had larger kidneys, more renal fibrosis and lower creatinine clearance (main effects of fat level).Rats fed MO rather than CO and SO diets had significantly lower kidney weights, kidney water content, cyst volumes and serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations (main effects of fat type). Rats fed MO diets also had less renal fibrosis than those fed CO diets, but the least fibrosis was in rats fed SO diets. Analysis of simple effects (due to interactions between fat level and type) revealed that HF diets increased renal inflammation in rats fed CO diets, but reduced inflammation was present in those fed SO and MO diets; HF diets also increased compared with LF diets serum urea nitrogen concentrations in rats fed the MO and CO diets, but not the SO diet. These results confirm that high dietary fat worsens early disease progression in this model of renal disease, and further demonstrate that diets with oils containing (n-3) fatty acids ameliorate some of the detrimental effects of a high fat diet.     

Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels in iron-deficient,hypertriglyceridemic rats

Two experiments were conducted to examine the role and status of thyroid hormone in iron-deficient hypertriglyceridemic rats. In Experiment I, male weanling rats were fed 6 diets containing 2 levels of dietary iron [6 ppm(?Fe) and 240 ppm(+Fe)] and 3 combinations of fats [14% beef tallow +1% safflower oil(B), 7.5% beef tallow +7.5% safflower oil(BS) and 15% safflower(S)]. After 3 weeks, rats receiving ?Fe diets had elevated triglyceride (TG) and depressed triiodothyronine(T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels in serum, regardless of the fat source. No difference in the post-heparin lipolytic activity could be detected after 6 weeks of dietary treatment between rats fed +Fe and ?Fe diets. Feeding the BS+Fe diet to the BS?Fe rats for 1 week brought their serum TG, T3, and T4 to levels similar to those of rats fed the BS+Fe diet for 7 weeks. In Experiment II, male weanling rats were fed B diets containing 6 levels of dietary iron (3, 6, 10, 15, 30, and 60 ppm) for 4 weeks. Weekly determinations of packed cell volume(PCV), serum T3, T4, and TG were made. PCV, serum T3 and T4 levels increased as dietary iron content increased. The relationship between serum TG level with dietary iron level or PCV was quadratic, curvilinear. Data also suggest that part of the iron effect on serum TG level is thyroid hormone related.     

Potency of polyunsaturated and saturated fats as short-term inhibitors of hepatic lipogenesis in rats

Three dietary studies using male Sprague-Dawley rats conditioned to meal-eat a high glucose, fat-free diet and one in vitro study with isolated rat hepatocytes were designed to examine the hypothesis that polyunsaturated fats (i.e., safflower oil or linoleate) are more potent acute inhibitors of liver fatty acid synthesis than are saturated fats (i.e., beef tallow or palmitate). Fat in the first in vivo study was administered via intubation (1500 mg/rat) whereas in the second and third in vivo studies fat was added to the meal in amounts of 50, 100, 250 or 500 mg/g fat-free diet. When the rats were in a postprandial condition, significant suppression of hepatic lipogenesis required the meal to contain 38% of its energy as fat (i.e., 250 mg/g fat-free diet). At this level of fat, safflower oil was more inhibitory than beef tallow (p less than 0.05). The inhibition constant (Ki) for palmitate inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by isolated hepatocytes was fourfold greater than linoleate's Ki (fatty acid/albumin ratio of 1.4/1). When fat constituted 50% of the ingested energy, beef tallow was equivalent to safflower oil as an inhibitor of lipogenesis. Although a single meal containing 50 mg safflower oil/g fat-free diet did not decrease fatty acid synthesis, it effectively delayed the induction of lipogenesis during the first 30 min of the adaptive decrease in lipogenic enzymes attributed to polyunsaturated fats extends to short-term regulatory mechanisms.     

Dietary fat saturation affects glucose metabolism without affecting insulin receptor number and affinity in adipocytes from BHE rats

The effects of dietary fat source on epididymal fat cell insulin receptor binding and affinity and on glucose transport and use by genetically diabetic rats were studied. Male BHE rats were fed 6% fat/64% sucrose diets. The fat consisted of 1% corn oil plus 5% beef tallow, menhaden oil or corn oil. Glucose tolerance was assessed at 100, 300 and 600 d of age. At 100 d of age the fat pads were excised, isolated adipocytes prepared and insulin receptor number, receptor affinity, 3-O-methyl glucose uptake and glucose use determined. Insulin receptor number and binding affinity were not affected by dietary fat type. The transport and subsequent use of glucose were greater in fat cells from rats fed beef tallow compared with those from rats fed corn oil or menhaden oil. All three groups exhibited a deterioration in glucose tolerance with age. Although we observed greater glucose transport, oxidation and conversion to fatty acids in beef tallow-fed rats, we saw no differences in these measurements between cells from corn or menhaden oil-fed rats. Thus, we conclude that the effects of these dietary lipids are attributable to effects of saturated fatty acids on intracellular events rather than on the insulin receptor per se, and that the type of unsaturated fatty acid [(n-3) vs. (n-6)] is of little importance to the regulation of glucose metabolism by isolated adipocytes.     

饲料构成影响大鼠不同组织中UCP2 mRNA的表达

目的　探讨不同饲料构成对大鼠褐色脂肪组织、白色脂肪组织与骨骼肌解偶联蛋白 - 2基因表达的影响。方法　利用不同的饲料 (包括基础饲料、高蛋白、高脂肪饲料、高能饲料 1与高能饲料 2 )喂养雄性Wistar大鼠 2个月 ,观察不同饲料构成对大鼠体重、脂体比与游离脂肪酸的影响 ,并应用RT PCR方法则定大鼠褐色脂肪组织、白色脂肪组织与骨骼肌UCP2mRNA表达水平。结果　高能饲料 1组与高能饲料 2组的体重、脂体比与游离脂肪酸均显著高于基础组、高蛋白组与高脂肪组 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而后三者的体重、脂体比与游离脂肪酸无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 )。高能饲料 1与高能饲料 2组白色脂肪组织UCP2基因表达增强 ,而能量相同的基础组、高蛋白组与高脂肪组没有明显差异。各组褐色脂肪组织与骨骼肌UCP2mRNA水平相近。结论　能量能诱导大鼠白色脂肪组织UCP2mRNA表达 ,表达的强弱与体内的储存能量多少有关。褐色脂肪组织与骨骼肌UCP2mRAN表达不受饲料成分的影响。     

Influence of high-fat diet from differential dietary sources on bone mineral density, bone strength, and bone fatty acid composition in rats

Previous studies have suggested that high-fat diets adversely affect bone development. However, these studies included other dietary manipulations, including low calcium, folic acid, and fibre, and (or) high sucrose or cholesterol, and did not directly compare several common sources of dietary fat. Thus, the overall objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high-fat diets that differ in fat quality, representing diets high in saturated fatty acids (SFA), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), or n-6 PUFA, on femur bone mineral density (BMD), strength, and fatty acid composition. Forty-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained for 65?days on high-fat diets (20% by weight), containing coconut oil (SFA; n = 10), flaxseed oil (n-3 PUFA; n = 10), or safflower oil (n-6 PUFA; n = 11). Chow-fed rats (n = 10), at 105?days of age, were included to represent animals on a control diet. Rats fed high-fat diets had higher body weights than the chow-fed rats (p?< 0.001). Among all high-fat groups, there were no differences in femur BMD (p?> 0.05) or biomechanical strength properties (p?> 0.05). Femurs of groups fed either the high n-3 or high n-6 PUFA diets were stronger (as measured by peak load) than those of the chow-fed group, after adjustment for significant differences in body weight (p = 0.001). As expected, the femur fatty acid profile reflected the fatty acid composition of the diet consumed. These results suggest that high-fat diets, containing high levels of PUFA in the form of flaxseed or safflower oil, have a positive effect on bone strength when fed to male rats 6 to 15?weeks of age.     

Failure to demonstrate an effect of dietary fatty acid composition on body weight, body composition and parameters of lipid metabolism in mature rats

The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of dietary fatty acid composition on body composition and on several parameters of lipid metabolism in adipose tissue and to assess the ease of weight loss with restricted dietary intake. Rats were fed diets containing 14% fish oil, safflower oil or beef fat plus 2% corn oil. These diets were fed ad libitum for 4 wk (first phase). A number of the animals from each group were killed, and the others were fed 50% of their first-phase food intake for an additional 4 wk (second phase). The diets used in the second phase contained 3% of the above fats plus 2% corn oil. Food consumption, food efficiency and body weights were monitored. After the rats were killed, fatty acid composition of epididymal fat pads was examined. In addition, in vivo lipolysis and in vitro lipogenesis in epididymal fat pads were examined. The results indicate that dietary fatty acid composition had no effect on body weight, food consumption, in vivo lipolysis and in vitro lipogenesis in epididymal fat pads. In addition, although dietary fatty acid manipulation resulted in alteration in adipose tissue fatty acid composition, it had no effect on the rate of weight loss, body composition, in vivo lipolysis and in vitro lipogenesis in epididymal fat pads. It is concluded that dietary fatty acid composition does not play a role in body composition and in lipid metabolism in adipose tissue of mature rats.     

Conjugated linoleic acid differentially modifies fatty acid composition in subcellular fractions of muscle and adipose tissue but not adiposity of postweaning pigs

This study examined the interaction between conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and dietary fat type on the enrichment of subcellular fractions, the Delta(9) desaturase index and adiposity in pigs. Early weaned piglets (n = 6/group) were fed for 35 d diets supplemented with 15 g/100 g diet beef tallow or corn oil, or 12 g/100 g tallow or corn oil plus 3 g CLA. There were no effects of dietary fat or CLA on the mass of dissected skin, bone, muscle or adipose tissue of the 7th to 9th thoracic rib sections. Medial subcutaneous adipose tissue of pigs fed tallow had smaller adipocytes than that of pigs fed corn oil. The lateral subcutaneous site was unaffected by dietary fat type. Microsomes accumulated <50% the concentration of trans-10,cis-12, cis-11,trans-13, and cis-9,trans-11 CLA as membrane and nonmembrane fractions of adipose tissue and longissimus muscle. There was no evidence of preferential incorporation of any CLA isomer into any of the subcellular fractions. Addition of CLA to the diets reduced adipose tissue nonmembrane monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA; g/100 g total fatty acids) by 15% in corn oil-fed pigs and by 19% in tallow-fed pigs. Total saturated fatty acids (SFA) were increased by CLA commensurately in this lipid fraction. This resulted in a reduced Delta(9) desaturase index [MUFA/(SFA + MUFA)] in the nonmembrane lipid fraction of pigs fed either the corn oil or tallow diets. Thus, in spite of marked effects on fatty acid composition and the Delta(9) desaturase index, CLA had no effect on adiposity in early weaned piglets fed high fat diets.     

Varying incorporation of fatty acids into phospholipids from muscle,adipose and pancreatic exocrine tissues and thymocytes in adult rats fed with diets rich in different fatty acids

Despite numerous studies, the importance which the tissue or the composition of the diet may have in the biological distribution of each fatty acid is not well known. To determine the importance of tissue origin and dietary fatty acids in the fatty acid composition of cell phospholipids, 54 male adult rats were fed isocaloric diets for one month varying only in their fatty acid compositions. The fat component of the six experimental groups was derived from olive oil, sunflower oil, fish oil, soybean oil, palmitic acid, or 82% palmitic acid plus 18% soybean oil, supplying the essential fatty acid. The fatty acid composition of phospholipids from thymocytes, pancreatic exocrine, muscle and adipose tissues was studied by gas-chromatography. The tissue of origin was a more important source of variation than diet in the fatty acid content of the cell phospholipids except for palmitic acid (16:0), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3). This study points out the complexity of the interrelations between different families of fatty acids and of the specificity of each tissue to changes in the composition of dietary fatty acids, as well as the inconvenience of speaking from the dietary point of view of groups of fatty acid families based on the position of the double bond, since their individual behaviour, including saturated fatty acids, is very different in the face of dietary manipulation. The study also highlights the different behaviour of each of the fatty acids in relation to the others in the diet in each of the tissues, a circumstance which should be taken into account when evaluating the biological effects in both epidemiological and experimental studies.     

Effect of different dietary triglycerides on liver fatty acids and prostaglandin synthesis by mouse peritoneal cells.

The effect of dietary triglycerides varying in fatty acid composition on the tissue fatty acids and prostaglandin synthesis was studied in mice. The dietary fats were medium-chain triglycerides (rich in C8:0 and C10:0), structured lipids (rich in 12:0), high oleic sunflower oil (rich in 18:1), corn oil (rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids), and menhaden oil (rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) fed at 5% by weight in refined diets. The medium chain fatty acids C8 to C12 from medium-chain triglycerides and structured lipids did not accumulate in liver phospholipids. However, long-chain fatty acids from the dietary fats were incorporated into liver lipids, with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids replacing arachidonic acid. The synthesis of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and prostaglandin E2 by peritoneal cells in response to intraperitoneal injection of zymosan decreased as the arachidonic acid levels were decreased. When the same dietary fats were added to the refined, fat-free diets, at 7.5 wt% levels, together with 2.5 wt% of safflower oil to provide essential fatty acids, only the long-chain fatty acids from the dietary fats were incorporated into the liver lipids. The arachidonic acid in liver lipids was enhanced after supplementation of diets with safflower oil. However, the reduction in prostaglandin synthesis by peritoneal cells in response to intraperitoneal injection of zymosan was similar to that observed when 5% fat was fed. The data suggest that dietary fats of defined composition, with or without added essential fatty acids, may be useful as alternate fat sources in parenteral nutrition in reducing inflammatory responses mediated via prostaglandins.     

Effect of dietary fat composition on rat colon plasma membranes and fecal lipids

The present study was designed to examine the effect of dietary fat composition on the structure of colon mucosal plasma membranes and fecal lipids. Rats were fed a purified diet containing 14% of either highly saturated fat (beef fat or butterfat) or highly polyunsaturated oil (safflower) in addition to 2% corn oil for 4 wk. Colon mucosal membranes were prepared and examined for lipid composition and protein pattern. Saturated fatty acid feeding resulted in the loss of some protein bands from plasma membranes compared to feeding polyunsaturated fatty acids. Within the saturated fatty acid--rich fats, feeding beef fat caused a greater loss than did feeding butterfat. Dietary fat composition had no effect on membrane content of phospholipid and cholesterol. Saturated fatty acid feeding resulted in an increase in the percentage of 18:1 in plasma membrane lipids compared to feeding safflower oil. The observed changes in the structure of colon mucosal membrane of animals fed the saturated fats were associated with an increase in fecal free fatty acids. There was a 4-fold and 2-fold increase in fecal free fatty acids with feeding the beef fat and butterfat diets, respectively, compared to the safflower oil diet. Alterations in fecal bile acid and free fatty acid composition were also noticed with feeding saturated fatty acids. The results obtained suggest that feeding saturated fatty acids as the main source of fat in the diet could influence the structure of colon mucosa, and this could be mediated through fecal free fatty acids.     

Effect of triacylglycerols containing medium- and long-chain fatty acids on body fat accumulation in rats

Effect of triacylglycerols containing medium- and long-chain fatty acids (TML) on body fat accumulation was studied in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed an experimental diet containing 25% soybean oil or TML for 6 weeks. The food intake for 6 weeks did not significantly differ between the two diet groups. However, the perirenal and mesenteric adipose tissue weight and carcass fat content were significantly lower in the TML diet group than in the soybean oil diet group. The epididymal adipose tissue weight and liver triacylglycerol content did not significantly differ between the two diet groups. The digestibility of dietary fat did not significantly differ between the two diet groups. These results suggest that an intake of TML decreases body fat accumulation compared to an intake of soybean oil in rats.