Fish oil supplementation in obese rats ameliorates metabolic syndrome response

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 57; p. e13172
• Main Authors: Freitas, D M B, Oliveira, B A C, Henschel, L D V, Oliveira, M H A P C, Zazula, M, Horlem, E, Rodriguez, D F S, Carvalhal, S R S, Iagher, F, Fernandez, R, Naliwaiko, K, Fernandes, L C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Revista Brasileira de Pesquisas Medicas 01-01-2024; Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adiposity; Animals; BIOLOGY; Body fat; Body weight; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Dyslipidemia; Female; Fish oils; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Food intake; Immune response; Innate immune system; Innate immunity; Insulin Resistance; Interleukin-6 - blood; Intra-Abdominal Fat - drug effects; Intra-Abdominal Fat - metabolism; Litter size; Male; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - diet therapy; Metabolism; Obesity; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Obesity; Innate immune system; Adiposity; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolism
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 1414-431X; 1678-4510
• DOI: 10.1590/1414-431X2024e13172

Accumulation of visceral adipose tissue is associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Here we examined several morphometric and biochemical parameters linked to MS in a rodent litter size reduction model, and how a 30-day fish oil (FO) supplementation affected these parameters. On day 3 post-birth, pups were divided into groups of ten or three. On day 22, rats were split into control (C) and small litter (SL) until 60 days old. Then, after metabolic disturbance and obesity were confirmed, FO supplementation started for 30 days and the new groups were named control (C), FO supplemented (FO), obese (Ob), and obese FO supplemented (ObFO). Comparison was performed by Student t-test or 2-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test. At the end of the 60-day period, SL rats were hyperphagic, obese, hypoinsulinemic, normoglycemic, and had high visceral fat depot and high interleukin (IL)-6 plasma concentration. Obese rats at 90 days of age were fatter, hyperphagic, hyperglycemic, hypertriacylgliceromic, hipoinsulinemic, with low innate immune response. IL-6 production ex vivo was higher, but in plasma it was not different from the control group. FO supplementation brought all biochemical changes to normal values, normalized food intake, and reduced body weight and fat mass in obese rats. The innate immune response was improved but still not as efficient as in lean animals. Our results suggested that as soon MS appears, FO supplementation must be used to ameliorate the morpho- and biochemical effects caused by MS and improve the innate immune response.