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Dietary fat quality in regular fat diets has minor effects on biomarkers of inflammation in obese Zucker rats

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European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Adipose tissue-associated chronic inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-related diseases. Dietary fatty acids are known to influence inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to investigate, whether diets with regular fat contents but variable fat qualities affect adipose tissue-associated inflammation through the fatty acid composition of mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT).

Methods

Obese Zucker rats were fed diets containing 7 % wt:wt rapeseed oil, corn oil, or lard for 10 weeks. Fatty acid composition and endocrine function regarding adipokines and cytokines of MAT, number of total CD3+ T cells, and cytokine secretion of mesenteric lymph node (MLN)-derived lymphocytes were determined. Local effects in MAT and MLN were compared to systemic effects assessed in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Results

Fatty acid composition of MAT reflected dietary fatty acid intake, without affecting endocrine function. Feeding the lard diet for 10 weeks increased the serum adiponectin and TNF-α secretion of blood lymphocytes, whereas CD3+ T cells in blood were decreased. No effects were seen for the secretion of adipokines and cytokines from MAT, the amount of T cells in MLN, and cytokine secretion of MLN lymphocytes.

Conclusions

In conclusion, feeding obese rats a diet with regular fat content but variable fat sources for 10 weeks, changed the fatty acid composition of MAT but not its secretory properties or MLN functions. Although the local immune system was not influenced, lard-feeding induced minor changes in systemic immune function.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Arachidonic acid

ALA:

α-Linolenic acid

AT:

Adipose tissue

RSO:

Rapeseed oil

COO:

Corn oil

CRP:

C-reactive protein

FITC:

Fluorescein isothiocyanate

HFD:

High-fat diet

LA:

Linoleic acid

MAT:

Mesenteric adipose tissue

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1

MLN:

Mesenteric lymph node

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acids

PAI-1:

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

PE:

Phycoerythrin

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

SFA:

Saturated fatty acids

TMSH:

Trimethylsulfonium hydroxide

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Acknowledgments

We thank M. Giorgi, C. Hoffmann, S. Merkel, G. Schultheiss, L. Uhlmann, and A. Waldheim for their excellent technical assistance. This work was supported in part by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education [0315379G].

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Daniela Graf, Stephan W. Barth, Achim Bub, Judith Narr, Bernhard Watzl & Stephanie Seifert

  2. Department of Safety and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Corinna E. Rüfer

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  1. Daniela Graf
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  2. Stephan W. Barth
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Correspondence to Bernhard Watzl.

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Graf, D., Barth, S.W., Bub, A. et al. Dietary fat quality in regular fat diets has minor effects on biomarkers of inflammation in obese Zucker rats. Eur J Nutr 53, 211–219 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0518-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0518-6

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