Long-chainn-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid from fish oil modulates aortic nitric oxide and tocopherol status in the rat

Abstract

In spite of their high oxidisability, long-chain n-3 PUFA protect against CVD. Dietary fatty acids modulate the fatty acid composition of lipoproteins involved in atherosclerosis. We thought that if long-chain n-3 PUFA were able to increase NO production by the aorta, then by its antioxidant activity the NO will prevent lipid peroxidation. However, the beneficial effect of NO in vivo on VLDL þ LDL oxidation would only be possible if NO could diffuse to their lipidic core. Rats were fed maize oil-or fish oil as menhaden oil-(MO) rich diets for 8 weeks, to study the effects of MO on aortic NO production, NO diffusion into VLDL þ LDL, the extent of oxidation in native VLDL þ LDL and their oxidisability ex vivo. Aortic NO production and its a-tocopherol content were increased and n-3 PUFA were incorporated into the VLDL þ LDL. In spite of the higher peroxidisability and the low a-tocopherol in native VLDL þ LDL from rats fed MO, native VLDL þ LDL from the two groups shared similar electrophoretic patterns, conjugated dienes, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, total antioxidant capacity, and NO diffusibility on VLDL þ LDL, indicative of an in vivo protection against oxidation. However, these results do not correlate with the ex vivo oxidisability of VLDL þ LDL, as NO is lacking. Thus, the in vivo beneficial effects can be explained by increased a-tocopherol in aorta and by a compensatory effect of NO on VLDL þ LDL against the low a-tocopherol levels, which may contribute to the anti-atherogenic properties of fish oil.

Atherosclerosis, Dyslipidemia, and Inflammation: The Significant Role of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

“…In fact supplementation of N-3 PUFAs improves flow-mediated arterial dilatation by an increased endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide [86, 99–111]. Several, although not all, clinical trials have also found that consumption of n-3 PUFAs lowers circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction, such as E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 [74, 112, 113].…”

The protective effect of menhaden oil in the oxidative damage and renal necrosis due to dietary choline deficiency

“…Fish oils are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and in antioxidants, with high levels of a-tocopherol and carotenoids. 16,21,22 It seems logical that menhaden oil prevents kidney oxidative damage and necrosis and animal death in CD by increasing kidney carotenoids as lipid soluble antioxidants, as pointed out by the decreased BOOH-initiated chemiluminescence (Fig. 3).…”

“…Concerning the rst concept, it has been observed that feeding mice with diets supplemented with menhaden oil increases the content of u-3 and u-6 fatty acids in the heart and brain. 15,16 The u-3 and u-6 fatty acids have several and important roles in metabolism. A benecial effect on health has been recognized for dietary sh oils.…”

Effect of PUFAs on extracellular matrix production and remodeling in vascular smooth muscle cell cultures in an atherosclerotic model

“…To date, most studies have found that n‐3 PUFAs have no effect on blood total cholesterol levels , although fish oil consumption was found to produce a 10% increase in HDL cholesterol . It is known that n‐3 fatty acids can stimulate endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production , which relaxes smooth muscle cell (SMCs) and permits dilation of the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure and endothelial activation. An elevated intake of fish oils (≥3 g/day) was reported to produce a moderate but significant blood pressure reduction .…”