Virgin olive and fish oils enhance the hepatic antioxidant defence system in atherosclerotic rabbits.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

In this study we report the effects of sunflower, virgin olive and fish oils on the lipid profile and antioxidant defence system in liver mitochondria from rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis.

METHOD:

An atherogenic control group were fed for 50 days on a diet containing 3% lard and 1.3% cholesterol. Four groups were fed for an additional period of 30 days with a diet enriched in different oils: sunflower oil, virgin olive oil, refined olive oil and fish oil. A control group was fed with a standard chow.

RESULTS:

The atherogenic diet caused important changes in the hepatic mitochondria lipid profile and in the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence system accompanied with an increase in the content of hydroperoxides in liver mitochondria. The administration of virgin olive and fish oils showed a better profile in the antioxidant system as well as decrease in the content of hydroperoxides.

CONCLUSIONS:

The intake of cholesterol- and lard-enriched diet leads to a high impairment in the hepatic antioxidant defence system. However, the replacement of that diet by other unsaturated fat-enriched diets using virgin olive, sunflower and fish oil enhances hepatic antioxidant defence system, virgin olive and fish oil diet provide the best results.

• Authors: C M Aguilera, M D Mesa, M C Ramírez-Tortosa, J L Quiles, A Gil
• Journal: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (Clin Nutr) Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pg. 379-84 (Aug 2003) ISSN: 0261-5614 [Print] England
• PMID: 12880605 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
• Fatty Acids
• Fish Oils
• Lipid Peroxides
• Olive Oil
• Plant Oils
• Sunflower Oil
• Vitamin A
• Catalase
• Glutathione Peroxidase
• Superoxide Dismutase
• alpha-Tocopherol

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Arteriosclerosis (metabolism)
• Catalase (metabolism)
• Diet, Atherogenic
• Dietary Fats, Unsaturated (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Fatty Acids (analysis, metabolism)
• Fish Oils (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Glutathione Peroxidase (metabolism)
• Lipid Peroxides (analysis, metabolism)
• Male
• Mitochondria, Liver (chemistry, enzymology, metabolism)
• Olive Oil
• Plant Oils (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Rabbits
• Random Allocation
• Sunflower Oil
• Superoxide Dismutase (metabolism)
• Vitamin A (analysis)
• alpha-Tocopherol (analysis)