Cardiac effects of fish oil in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases, 2018-06, Vol.28 (6), p.592-599
• Main Authors: Mayyas, F., Jaradat, R., Alzoubi, K.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarkers - blood; Cardiovascular disease; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - chemically induced; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - drug therapy; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies - blood; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies - chemically induced; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies - pathology; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies - prevention & control; Dietary Supplements; Fibrosis; Fish oil; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Fish Oils - blood; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators - blood; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - metabolism; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocardium - pathology; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Rats, Wistar; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Streptozocin; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2018.02.012

Fish oil (FO) is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have cardio-protective effects. This study aims to evaluate effects of FO in a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes. Adults male Wistar rats were assigned to control (4 μl corn oil/g corn oil given by oral gavage), FO (4 μl Menhaden FO/g body weight given by oral gavage), diabetes (DM, 35 mg/kg STZ single intraperitoneal injection, corn oil), and DM + FO groups for 8 weeks. Plasma and cardiac biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis were evaluated. STZ-induced diabetes as indicated by the significant increase in serum levels of glucose and percentage of glycated hemoglobins. FO reduced plasma arachidonic acid (AA) percentage and ratio of AA: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Plasma and cardiac levels of total nitrite, endothelin -1 (ET-1), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) increased in the DM group, whereas cardiac activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased. FO reduced cardiac nitrite and MPO, and plasma ET-1 levels. FO increased cardiac glutathione, catalase and SOD activities. Levels of thiobarbituric acid substances increased in the FO and DM groups with significant synergism in the DM + FO group. FO prevented cardiac fibrosis associated with DM and decreased cardiac transforming growth factor beta-1and p38 MAP kinases. Cardiac levels of matrix metalloproteinase -2 were significantly elevated in FO and DM + FO groups. FO decreased plasma and cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation and myocardial fibrosis. FO could be used in diabetes to reduce risk and burden of CVDs. •Diabetes is a strong factor for development of cardiovascular diseases.•Diabetes increases cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress and remodeling.•Fish oil has cardiovascular protective effects.•Fish oil reduces cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress and remodeling in diabetes.•Fish oil could be used to reduce risk and burden of cardiovascular disease in diabetes.