Dietary docosahexaenoic acid-rich diacylglycerols ameliorate hepatic steatosis and alter hepatic gene expressions in C57BL/6J-Lep(ob/ob) mice

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Aug;52(8):965-73. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200700315.

Abstract

We examined the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched structured lipids-diacylglycerol (SL-DG), which were synthesized using soybean oil (SO) and algae oil (AO), on hepatic lipid metabolism and the mRNA expression of genes involved in hepatic steatosis of C57BL/6J-Lep(ob/ob) compared to the SL-triacylglycerol (TG). The animals were fed a high-fat (10% lard and 10% test oils) and high-cholesterol (0.2% cholesterol) diet for 12 weeks. Mice fed SL-DG showed a lower total white adipose tissue weight and plasma triglyceride concentration than the SO group. Reduction of hepatic triglyceride content in the SL-DG group was related with the suppression of hepatic enzyme activities for fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis along with fecal triglyceride excretion compared to the SL-TG. SL-DG also lowered hepatic cholesterol levels by suppressing cholesterol regulating enzyme activity compared to the SO group. Moreover, SL-DG lowered the mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 and its target genes than TG-form oils (SO, AO and SL-TG) in the liver. Thus, the current results suggest that DHA-enriched SL-DG oil used in this study is beneficial for ameliorating hepatic steatosis in obese animal model by improving hepatic fatty acid and cholesterol metabolic enzyme activity and their gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Diglycerides / administration & dosage*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Liver / drug therapy*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Obese
  • PPAR gamma / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / genetics
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Diglycerides
  • PPAR gamma
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Srebf1 protein, mouse
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
  • Triglycerides
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases