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Low n-6/n-3 PUFA Ratio Improves Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Function in Rats Using Plant Oils as n-3 Fatty Acid Source

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Lipids

Abstract

Lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial function play important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be affected by an imbalance in the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio on these cardiovascular risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet using plant oils as the main n-3 PUFA source. The 1:1 and 5:1 ratio groups had significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and proinflammatory cytokines compared with the 20:1 group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 20:1 group had significantly increased serum levels of E-Selectin, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and numerous markers of oxidative stress compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). The 1:1 group had a significantly decreased lipid peroxide level compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Serum levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and vWF tended to increase with n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios increasing from 5:1 to 20:1. We demonstrated that low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (1:1 and 5:1) had a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors by enhancing favorable lipid profiles, having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects, and improving endothelial function. A high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (20:1) had adverse effects. Our results indicated that low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios exerted beneficial cardiovascular effects, suggesting that plant oils could be used as a source of n-3 fatty acids to prevent CVD. They also suggested that we should be aware of possible adverse effects from excessive n-3 PUFA.

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Abbreviations

ALA:

α-Linolenic acid (18:3n-3)

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ApoC3:

Apolipoprotein C3

CRP:

C-reactive protein

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3)

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3)

ES:

E-selectin

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

HOMA-IR:

Homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

8-Iso-PG:

8-Iso-prostaglandin

LDL-C:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LPO:

Lipid peroxide

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MPO:

Myeloperoxidase

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid(s)

NADPH-OX:

NADPH oxidase

Ox-LDL:

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein

PC:

Protein carbonyl

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid(s)

TAG:

Triacylglycerol

TC:

Total cholesterol

TNF-α :

Tumor necrosis factor α

Vwf:

Von Willebrand factor

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Science Fund Project (No. 81001244).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Ding Jia Qiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, China

    Li Gang Yang, Zhi Xiu Song, Hong Yin, Yan Yan Wang, Shao Kang Wang & Gui Ju Sun

  2. Second Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China

    Zhi Xiu Song

  3. School of Food Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China

    Hong Yin

  4. Zhongda Hospital Affiliated, Southeast University, Nanjing, China

    Guo Fang Shu & Hui Xia Lu

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  1. Li Gang Yang
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Correspondence to Gui Ju Sun.

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Yang, L.G., Song, Z.X., Yin, H. et al. Low n-6/n-3 PUFA Ratio Improves Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Function in Rats Using Plant Oils as n-3 Fatty Acid Source. Lipids 51, 49–59 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-015-4091-z

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