Dietary (n-6  :  n-3) Fatty Acids Alter Plasma and Tissue Fatty Acid Composition in Pregnant Sprague Dawley Rats

• Published in: TheScientificWorld 2012-01, Vol.2012 (2012), p.1-7
• Main Authors: Kassem, Amira Abdulbari, Abu Bakar Zakaria, Md Zuki, Yong Meng, Goh, Mohamed Mustapha, Noordin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Arachidonic acid; Blood plasma; Chromatography, Gas; Diet; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; Docosahexaenoic acid; Fatty acid composition; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - blood; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - pharmacology; Female; Fish oils; Health aspects; Linoleic acid; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Soybean oil; Soybeans; Tissues
• ISSN: 2356-6140; 1537-744X; 1537-744X
• DOI: 10.1100/2012/851437

The objective of this paper is to study the effects of varying dietary levels of n-6 : n-3 fatty acid ratio on plasma and tissue fatty acid composition in rat. The treatment groups included control rats fed chow diet only, rats fed 50% soybean oil (SBO): 50% cod liver oil (CLO) (1 : 1), 84% SBO: 16% CLO (6 : 1), 96% SBO: 4% CLO (30 : 1). Blood samples were taken at day 15 of pregnancy, and the plasma and tissue were analyzed for fatty acid profile. The n-3 PUFA in plasma of Diet 1 : 1 group was significantly higher than the other diet groups, while the total n-6 PUFA in plasma was significantly higher in Diet 30 : 1 group as compared to the control and Diet 1 : 1 groups. The Diet 1 : 1 group showed significantly greater percentages of total n-3 PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid in adipose and liver tissue, and this clearly reflected the contribution of n-3 fatty acids from CLO. The total n-6 PUFA, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid were significantly difference in Diet 30 : 1 as compared to Diet 1 : 1 and control group. These results demonstrated that the dietary ratio of n-6 : n-3 fatty acid ratio significantly affected plasma and tissue fatty acids profile in pregnant rat.