Effect of Dietary n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on OxidantAntioxidant Status in Macrosomic Offspring of Diabetic Rats

Abstract EN

The aim of this work was to determine the effect of dietary n-3 PUFA on oxidant/antioxidant status, in vitro very low and low density lipoprotein (VLDL-LDL), and VLDL-LDL-fatty acid composition in macrosomic pups of diabetic mothers.

We hypothesized that n-3 PUFA would improve oxidative stress in macrosomia.

Diabetes was induced in female Wistar rats fed with the ISIO diet (control) or with the EPAX diet (enriched in n-3 PUFAs), by streptozotocin.

The macrosomic pups were killed at birth (day 0) and at adulthood (day 90).

Lipid parameters and VLDL-LDL-fatty acid composition were investigated.

The oxidant/antioxidant status was determined by measuring plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), hydroperoxides, carbonyl proteins, and VLDL-LDL oxidation.

Macrosomic rats of ISIO fed diabetic mothers showed an increase in plasma and VLDL-LDL-triglycerides and VLDL-LDL-cholesterol levels and altered VLDL-LDL-fatty acid composition.

Plasma ORAC was low with high hydroperoxide and carbonyl protein levels.

The in vitro oxidizability of VLDL-LDL was enhanced in these macrosomic rats.

The EPAX diet corrected lipid parameters and improved oxidant/antioxidant status but increased VLDL-LDL susceptibility to oxidation.

Macrosomia is associated with lipid abnormalities and oxidative stress.

n-3 PUFA exerts favorable effects on lipid metabolism and on the oxidant/antioxidant status of macrosomic rats.

However, there are no evident effects on VLDL-LDL oxidation.