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Daily Intake of Cod or Salmon for 2 Weeks Decreases the 18:1n-9/18:0 Ratio and Serum Triacylglycerols in Healthy Subjects

  • Original Article
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Lipids

An Erratum to this article was published on 17 May 2012

Abstract

Intake of fish and omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids is associated with a reduced concentration of plasma triacylglycerols (TAG) but the mechanisms are not fully clarified. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) activity, governing TAG synthesis, is affected by n-3 fatty acids. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) display expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. The aim of the present study was to estimate whether intake of lean and fatty fish would influence n-3 fatty acids composition in plasma phospholipids (PL), serum TAG, 18:1n-9/18:0 ratio in plasma PL, as well as PBMC gene expression of SCD1 and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Healthy males and females (n = 30), aged 20–40, consumed either 150 g of cod, salmon, or potato (control) daily for 15 days. During intervention docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) increased in the cod group (P < 0.05), while TAG concentration decreased (P < 0.05). In the salmon group both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and DHA increased (P < 0.05) whereas TAG concentration and the 18:1n-9/18:0 ratio decreased (P < 0.05). Reduction of the 18:1n-9/18:0 ratio was associated with a corresponding lowering of TAG (P < 0.05) and an increase in EPA and DHA (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of SCD1 and FAS in PBMC were not significantly altered after intake of cod or salmon when compared with the control group. In conclusion, both lean and fatty fish may lower TAG, possibly by reducing the 18:1n-9/18:0 ratio related to allosteric inhibition of SCD1 activity, rather than by influencing the synthesis of enzyme protein.

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Abbreviations

CE:

Cholesterol ester

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

FAS:

Fatty acid synthase

GUSβ:

Glucuronidase-beta

HDL-C:

High density lipoprotein cholesterol

LA:

Linoleic acid

LDL-C:

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol

n-3:

Omega-3

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell

PL:

Phospholipid

PPARα:

Peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor alpha

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

SCD1:

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1

SREBP1:

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1

TBP:

TATA binding protein

TAG:

Triacylglycerol

VLDL:

Very low density lipoprotein

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the participants who made this work possible. We are also grateful to researcher Mari C.W. Myhrstad for critically reading the manuscript. The study was supported by Akershus University College, Norwegian Research Council (grant number 176619/V00 and grant number 142468/140), The Norwegian Cancer Society (grant number 88309/010) and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority RHF (grant number 2006094 and grant number 2007021). Akershus University College is Member of SYSDIET, a Nordic Centre of excellence financed by Nordforsk (project number 070014).

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There is no conflict of interest among the authors and financial supporters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Postbox 4, St. Olavsplass, 0130, Oslo, Norway

    Vibeke H. Telle-Hansen, Marianne Molin, Kari Almendingen & Stine M. Ulven

  2. Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Postbox 1046, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    Vibeke H. Telle-Hansen

  3. EpiGen Institute, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Postbox 26, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway

    Laila N. Larsen

  4. Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Oslo, Postbox 1130, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway

    Arne T. Høstmark

  5. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Postbox 1110, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Marianne Molin

  6. National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Postbox 2029, Nordnes, 5817, Bergen, Norway

    Lisbeth Dahl

  7. Unit of Clinical Research, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Postbox 26, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway

    Kari Almendingen

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  1. Vibeke H. Telle-Hansen
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Telle-Hansen, V.H., Larsen, L.N., Høstmark, A.T. et al. Daily Intake of Cod or Salmon for 2 Weeks Decreases the 18:1n-9/18:0 Ratio and Serum Triacylglycerols in Healthy Subjects. Lipids 47, 151–160 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-011-3637-y

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