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Dietary Salba (Salvia hispanica L.) ameliorates the adipose tissue dysfunction of dyslipemic insulin-resistant rats through mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ

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Abstract

Purpose

Rats fed a long-term sucrose-rich diet (SRD) developed adipose tissue dysfunction. In the adipose tissue of these SRD-fed rats, the present study analyzed the possible beneficial effects of dietary Salba (chia) seeds in improving or reversing the depletion of antioxidant defenses, changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS production.

Methods

Wistar rats were fed a SRD for 3 months. After that, half of the animals continued with the SRD until month 6, while in the other half, corn oil was replaced by chia seeds for 3 months (SRD + chia). A reference group consumed a control diet all the time.

Results

Compared with the SRD-fed rats, the animals fed a SRD + chia showed a reduction in epididymal fat pad weight; the activities of antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD and GPx returned to control values, while GR significantly improved; mRNA GPx increased, and both mRNA SOD and the redox state of glutathione returned to control values; a significant increase in the expression of Nrf2 was recorded. These results were accompanied by a decrease in XO activity and ROS contents as well as plasma IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Chia seeds reversed the decrease in PPARγ protein mass level and increased the n-3/n-6 fatty acids ratio of membrane phospholipids. Besides, dyslipidemia and insulin sensitivity were normalized.

Conclusion

This study provides new information concerning some mechanisms related to the beneficial effects of dietary chia seeds in reversing adipose tissue oxidative stress and improving the adipose tissue dysfunction induced by a SRD.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Carlos Marra INIBIOLP, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, La Plata, Argentina for the evaluation of fatty acid composition of adipose tissue phospholipids. Thanks are also given to Silvia Rodríguez and Walter Da Ru for their skillful technical assistance. The present study was carried out with the financial support of Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCYT) (Grant PICT 945 BID OC /AR 2011) and University of Litoral (CAI+D 0058 LI-2012). The authors thank Agrisalba S.A, Buenos Aires, Argentina for providing the SALBA chia seeds.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Bioquímica, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria El Pozo cc 242, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

      M. R. Ferreira, P. Illesca & Y. B. Lombardo

    2. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Avenida Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, San Luis, Argentina

      S. M. Alvarez & M. S. Giménez

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    1. M. R. Ferreira
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    2. S. M. Alvarez
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    4. M. S. Giménez
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    5. Y. B. Lombardo
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    Correspondence to Y. B. Lombardo.

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    M. R. Ferreira and S. M. Alvarez have contributed equally to the laboratory assays in the present study.

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    Ferreira, M.R., Alvarez, S.M., Illesca, P. et al. Dietary Salba (Salvia hispanica L.) ameliorates the adipose tissue dysfunction of dyslipemic insulin-resistant rats through mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Eur J Nutr 57, 83–94 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1299-5

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