Prevention of chemically induced diabetes mellitus in experimental animals by polyunsaturated fatty acids

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2001-02, Vol.17 (2), p.126-151
• Main Authors: Krishna Mohan, I, Das, U.N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloxan; Animals; Antioxidants - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; conjugated linoleic acid; Cytokines - blood; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - prevention & control; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - prevention & control; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Eicosanoids - metabolism; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; essential fatty-acid deficiency; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - therapeutic use; Fish Oils; Insulin - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Organ Specificity; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ; Phospholipids - biosynthesis; Phospholipids - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; troglitazone
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/S0899-9007(00)00468-8

Previous studies showed that essential fatty-acid deficiency, conjugated linoleic acid, and a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ binding agent such as troglitazone can prevent the development of diabetes mellitus in experimental animals. In the present study, we observed that oral supplementation with oils rich in ω-3 eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and ω-6 γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid could protect the animals against alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus. These oils rich in ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids not only significantly attenuated chemical-induced diabetes mellitus but also restored the antioxidant status to normal range. Changes in the concentrations of different fatty acids shown by the phospholipid fractions of plasma, liver, and muscle tissues that occurred as a result of alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus also reverted to normal in these animals. Based on these results and the known mechanisms of alloxan, we suggest that ω-3 and ω-6 long-chain fatty acids can prevent chemically induced diabetes mellitus by enhancing the antioxidant status and suppressing production of cytokines.