N-3 PUFA Deficiency Aggravates Streptozotocin-Induced Pancreatic Injury in Mice but Dietary Supplementation with DHA/EPA Protects the Pancreas via Suppressing Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

Abstract

It has been reported that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) exert therapeutic potential for the preservation of functional β-cell mass. However, the effect of dietary n-3 PUFA deficiency on pancreatic injury and whether the supplementation of n-3 PUFA could prevent the development of pancreatic injury are still not clear. In the present study, an n-3 PUFA deficiency mouse model was established by feeding them with n-3 PUFA deficiency diets for 30 days. Results showed that n-3 PUFA deficiency aggravated streptozotocin (STZ)-induced pancreas injury by reducing the insulin level by 18.21% and the HOMA β-cell indices by 31.13% and the area of islet by 52.58% compared with the STZ group. Moreover, pre-intervention with DHA and EPA for 15 days could alleviate STZ-induced pancreas damage by increasing the insulin level by 55.26% and 44.33%, the HOMA β-cell indices by 118.81% and 157.26% and reversed the area of islet by 196.75% and 205.57% compared to the n-3 Def group, and the effects were significant compared to γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) treatment. The possible underlying mechanisms indicated that EPA and DHA significantly reduced the ration of n-6 PUFA to n-3 PUFA and then inhibited oxidative stress, inflammation and islet β-cell apoptosis levels in pancreas tissue. The results might provide insights into the prevention and alleviation of pancreas injury by dietary intervention with PUFAs and provide a theoretical basis for their application in functional foods.

Differential effects of fish-oil and cocoa-butter based high-fat/high-sucrose diets on endocrine pancreas morphology and function in mice

“…Further research measuring the β-cell apoptosis to proliferation ratios will be needed to confirm whether the increase in β-cell numbers in the Fish-HFDS group is not a compensatory mechanism against the diet-induced insulin resistance. Moreover, pre-intervention with fish oil has a favorable impact on islet morphology ( 42 ), which needs to be further evaluated in various settings.…”

Protective potential of fish oil supplementation against insulin resistance and pancreatic islet damage in STZ-induced Wistar rats

“…This result implies that insulin secretion was not completely recovered after 3 weeks of oral fish oil administration. In contrast, scientific studies reported that omega-3 fatty acids may improve insulin secretion ( Baynes et al ., 2018 ; Zou et al ., 2023 ). In the cell culture study, fish oil can prevent pancreatic cell death and enhance insulin secretion ( Wei et al ., 2010 ; Das et al ., 2022 ).…”

Exploring the Role of Mediterranean and Westernized Diets and Their Main Nutrients in the Modulation of Oxidative Stress in the Placenta: A Narrative Review

“…After the administration of n-3 PUFAs, in vitro immunofluorescence and mRNA expression studies have shown increased expression of antioxidant-related genes like Sirt1 and Bcra1/Msh2, which are key in DNA repair [170]. These FA nutrient effects have already been widely studied in numerous pathologies, like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease [171], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [172], pancreatic problems [173], and endocrinal and sexual conditions like polycystic ovaries [170], among others. One limitation noted in our literature search is that placental oxidative stress conditions has been less explored; therefore, future clinical trials should rely on available data from animal models.…”