The Effects of High-Fat Diet and Flaxseed Oil-Enriched Diet on the Lung Parenchyma of Obese Mice

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research 2024-09, Vol.68 (18), p.e2300050
• Main Authors: Ramos, Camila de Oliveira, Sant'Ana, Marcella Ramos, Gonçalves, Giovana Rios, Rios, Thaiane da Silva, Nakandakari, Susana Castelo Branco Ramos, Burger, Beatriz, Fernandes, Luís Gustavo Romani, Zollner, Ricardo de Lima, de Oliveira, Arthur Noin, Ramos, Rodrigo Catharino, da Silva, Adelino Sanchez Ramos, Pauli, José Rodrigo, de Moura, Leandro Pereira, Ropelle, Eduardo Rochete, Mansour, Eli, Cintra, Dennys Esper
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alveoli; Animals; anti-inflammatory activity; Body weight gain; chemoattractants; Chemokine CCL2 - metabolism; Diet; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; Dietary supplements; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Flaxseed oil; Food consumption; food research; Food sources; High fat diet; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation; Inflammatory response; interleukin-10; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; interleukin-18; Interleukin-18 - metabolism; Interleukin-1beta - metabolism; linseed; linseed oil; Linseed Oil - administration & dosage; Linseed Oil - pharmacology; lipid composition; Lipids; Lung - drug effects; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Lungs; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Obese; Monocytes; Obesity; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Oils & fats; Parenchyma; parenchyma (animal tissue); weight gain; Weight Gain - drug effects
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202300050

Omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids are widely investigated for their anti-inflammatory potential, however, there is little evidence regarding their action in the lung parenchyma in the context of obesity. The objective is to investigate the effects of flaxseed oil (FS), rich in α-linolenic (C18:3 - ω3), on the lungs of obese mice. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HF) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently, a part of these animals received HF containing FS oil for another 8 weeks. The HF consumption induced weight gain and hyperglycemia. The lung parenchyma shows a complete fatty acids profile, compared to the control group (CT). In the lung parenchyma, FS increases the ω3 content and, notwithstanding a reduction in the interleukins (IL) IL1β and IL18 contents compared to HF. However, FS promoted increased alveolar spaces, followed by MCP1 (Monocytes Chemoattractant Protein-1) positive cell infiltration and a dramatic reduction in the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL10. Despite reducing the pulmonary inflammatory response, the consumption of a food source of ω3 was associated with alterations in the lipid profile and histoarchitecture of the lung parenchyma, which can lead to the development of pulmonary complications. This study brings an alert against the indiscriminate use of ω3 supplements, warranting caution.