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Immune dysfunction and increased oxidative stress state in diet-induced obese mice are reverted by nutritional supplementation with monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

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Abstract

Purpose

Obesity is associated with impaired immune defences and chronic low levels of inflammation and oxidation. In addition, this condition may lead to premature aging. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a nutritional supplementation with monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on several functions and oxidative stress parameters in peritoneal immune cells of obese mice, as well as on the life span of these animals.

Methods

Obesity was induced in adult female ICR/CD1 by the administration of a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks. During the last 6 weeks of HFD feeding, one group of obese mice received the same HFD, supplemented with 1500 mg of 2-hydroxyoleic acid (2-OHOA) and another with 3000 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Several functions and oxidative stress parameters of peritoneal leukocytes were evaluated.

Results

The groups of obese mice treated with 2-OHOA or with EPA and DHA showed a significant improvement in several functions such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, digestion capacity, Natural killer activity and lymphoproliferation in response to mitogens. All of these functions, which were decreased in obese mice, increased reaching similar levels to those found in non-obese controls. Both treatments also improved oxidative stress parameters such as xanthine oxidase activity, which decreased, catalase activity and glutathione levels, which increased.

Conclusion

These data suggest that dietary supplementation with monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could be an effective nutritional intervention to restore the immune response and oxidative stress state, which are impaired in obese mice.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from Ministry of Science and Innovation (BFU2011-30336), the Research Group of Madrid Complutense University (910379ENEROINN), Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Envejecimiento y Fragilidad (RETICEF RD12/0043/0018) and FIS (PI15/01787) of Institute de Salud Carlos III—Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (ISCIII-FEDER), the PRONAOS study and BTSA-Applied Biotechnologies S.L. Caroline Hunsche is the recipient of a PhD fellowship from CNP-q-Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Physiology II Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid and Research Institute of Hospital 12 de Octubre (i+12), José Antonio Novais Street, 2, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Caroline Hunsche, Oskarina Hernandez & Mónica De la Fuente

  2. Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), José Antonio Novais Street, 10, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Alina Gheorghe, Ligia Esperanza Díaz & Ascensión Marcos

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  1. Caroline Hunsche
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  2. Oskarina Hernandez
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Correspondence to Mónica De la Fuente.

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Hunsche, C., Hernandez, O., Gheorghe, A. et al. Immune dysfunction and increased oxidative stress state in diet-induced obese mice are reverted by nutritional supplementation with monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Eur J Nutr 57, 1123–1135 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1395-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1395-1

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