Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) effects on pups growth, milk composition and lipogenic enzymes in lactating rats

• Published in: Journal of dairy research 2007-05, Vol.74 (2), p.160-166
• Main Authors: Hayashi, Amanda Aparecida, de Medeiros, Sérgio Raposo, Hojaij Carvalho, Marina, Duarte Lanna, Dante Pazzanese
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal growth; animal models; Animal productions; Animals; Animals, Newborn - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Biological properties; Body Weight - drug effects; conjugated linoleic acid; Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA); dams (mothers); Dehydrogenase; Diet; dietary supplements; Embryonic Development - drug effects; Energy Intake; enzyme activity; enzymes; experimental diets; fatty acid composition; fatty acid profile; Fatty acids; Female; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; isomers; lactating rat; lactation; Lactation - physiology; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated - pharmacology; lipogenesis; Milk; Milk - chemistry; Milk - drug effects; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; milk composition; milk fat; Pregnancy; pups; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Terrestrial animal productions; Vertebrates
• ISSN: 0022-0299; 1469-7629
• DOI: 10.1017/S002202990600224X

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has a range of biological properties, including effects on lipid metabolism, milk and body composition in animals. This study investigated the effects of dietary CLA on lactating rats and development of the suckling pups. Dams were fed either a control diet or the same diet supplemented with 25 g/kg of a fat supplement containing 540 g CLA/kg (final concentration of 13·5 g CLA/kg diet) from parturition to the 15th day post-partum. The CLA mixture used in this study contained the following isomers (per 100 g): cis-9, trans-11 (24 g); cis-10, trans-12 (35 g); cis-8, trans-10 (15 g); cis-11, trans-13 (17 g) and others (9 g). On d 15 post partum, CLA supplementation reduced milk fat content by 33% and pup growth by 21%. The milk fatty acid profile, with decreased content of short and medium chain acids, suggests CLA inhibition was more pronounced for de novo lipid synthesis. Consistent with these results, activities of fatty acid synthase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were reduced by CLA treatment in the mammary gland and liver. In contrast, the activity of NADP-malate dehydrogenase was unchanged.