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Diet containing low n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio, provided by canola oil, alters body composition and bone quality in young rats

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European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Adipocytes and osteoblasts were derived from a common progenitor, and canola oil intake may have an adipogenic and osteogenic effect. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effect on adipocyte, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, and bone of canola oil as main lipid source on the diet during development.

Methods

After weaning, rats were divided into two groups (n = 10 per group): control (S) and experimental (C) diets containing 7 mL/100 g soybean or canola oil, respectively. At 60 days, body composition, liver and intra-abdominal fat mass, adipocyte morphology, serum analysis, femur and lumbar vertebras density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography were determined. Differences were considered significant with P < 0.05.

Results

C group showed the following: lower liver (−12%) and intra-abdominal fat mass (−19%) area of adipocyte (−60%), cholesterol (−33%), insulin (−22%), lower total body (−9%) and spine (−33%) bone mineral content and bone area (−7 and −24%, respectively), femur mass (−9%), width of the diaphysis (−6%), femur (−10%) and lumbar vertebrae bone mineral density (−9%), and radiodensity of femoral head (−8%).

Conclusions

The lower intra-abdominal adiposity could have more beneficial effects in a short term, since it can be associated with a better insulin sensitivity and lipid profile, than the small reduction in femur and lumbar vertebra density. However, it has to be considered the incremental effect of this reduction along the aging process.

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Abbreviations

EFA:

Essential fatty acids

SFA:

Saturated fatty acids

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

LA:

Linoleic acid

ALA:

Linolenic acid

S:

Control group fed with diet containing 7 mL soybean oil/100 g

C:

Experimental group fed with diet containing 7 mL canola oil/100 g

AIN:

American Institute of Nutrition

CT:

Computed tomography

DEXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

BMD:

Bone mineral density

BMC:

Bone mineral content

HE:

Hematoxylin–eosin

LV:

Lumbar vertebra

CT:

Computed tomography

HU:

Hounsfield units

PPARα:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha

SREBP-1c:

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acids

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Acknowledgments

We express our gratitude to Dr Flávia Fioruci Bezerra (Nutrition Institute, State University of Estado do Rio de Janeiro) for the opportunity to perform dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The manuscript is free of conflict of interest, and it was supported by the State of Rio de Janeiro Carlos Chagas Filho Research Foundation (FAPERJ) and Coordination for the Enhancement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). All authors have contributed to the work and are responsible for the content of the paper. C. A. S. C. treated the animals during pregnancy and lactation, manufactured the diets, and measured the body mass, length, and intra-abdominal fat mass; A. S. C. performed the morphometry of adipocytes; G. P. L. G. measured the serum parameters; M. S. R. and A. S. S. measured the bone dimensions; R. P. G. R analyzed the DEXA; A. M. V. M. analyzed the computed tomography; E. G. M. and C. C. A. N–S analyzed the results and wrote the final version of the manuscript. All authors wrote some part of the manuscript and after reading the final version agreed to submit the paper to the European Journal of Nutrition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. 28 de setembro, 87, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20551-030, Brazil

    Carlos Alberto Soares da Costa, Aluana Santana Carlos, Gabrielle de Paula Lopes Gonzalez, Rejane Pontes Gaspar Reis, Mariana dos Santos Ribeiro, Aline de Sousa dos Santos, Egberto Gaspar de Moura & Celly Cristina Alves do Nascimento-Saba

  2. Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. 28 de setembro, 87, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20551-030, Brazil

    Alexandra Maria Vieira Monteiro

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  1. Carlos Alberto Soares da Costa
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  2. Aluana Santana Carlos
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Correspondence to Celly Cristina Alves do Nascimento-Saba.

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Costa, C.A.S.d., Carlos, A.S., Gonzalez, G.d.P.L. et al. Diet containing low n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio, provided by canola oil, alters body composition and bone quality in young rats. Eur J Nutr 51, 191–198 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0206-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0206-3

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