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Dietary n-3 but not n-6 fatty acids modulate anthropometry and fertility indices in high-fat diet fed rats: a two-generation study

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Abstract

The present study assessed the modulatory potentials of dietary n-3 [α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3 + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 22:6n-3), and n-6 fatty acid (LA, 18:2n-6)] on anthropometric parameters and fertility indices in high-fat-fed rats. Weanling female Wistar rats were fed with control diet (7% lard), high-fat diet (35% lard, HFL), high-fat with fish oil (21% fish oil + 14% lard, HFF), high-fat with canola oil (21% canola oil + 14% lard, HFC) and high-fat with sunflower oil (21% sunflower oil + 14% lard, HFS) for 2 months, mated and continued on their diets during pregnancy. At gestation day 18–20, the intra-uterine environment was examined in representative rats, and the rest were allowed for delivering pups. The pups after lactation were subjected to mating and feeding trials as above. Growth parameters (body weight, body length (BL), abdominal circumference (AC), thoracic circumference (TC), and Lee index and fertility parameters (litter size and sex ratio) were studied. Feeding HFL diet increased BL (16%), AC (33%) and TC (21%) compared to control (p < 0.05). Adipose tissue accumulation was 11% higher in the HFL group compared to control and was lowered with n-3 fatty acid incorporation in the diet. HFL group exhibited a lower percentage of fertility, pregnancy, and delivery indices. Litter size was decreased by 20%, and litter weight was increased by 23% in HFL group compared to control with more male pups. Our study indicated that n-3 to a larger extent than n-6 fatty acids modulated high-fat induced changes in the anthropometric parameters and fertility indices.

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Acknowledgements

Ms. Breetha acknowledges UGC, New Delhi, for the award of Research Fellowship. The authors thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research New Delhi and Director, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, for all the encouragement. A part of this work was financially assisted by BSC 0404. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, 570020, India

    Breetha Ramaiyan, Mehrdad Zarei, Pooja Acharya & Ramaprasad Ravichandra Talahalli

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  1. Breetha Ramaiyan
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  2. Mehrdad Zarei
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  3. Pooja Acharya
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  4. Ramaprasad Ravichandra Talahalli
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Correspondence to Ramaprasad Ravichandra Talahalli.

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Ramaiyan, B., Zarei, M., Acharya, P. et al. Dietary n-3 but not n-6 fatty acids modulate anthropometry and fertility indices in high-fat diet fed rats: a two-generation study. J Food Sci Technol 58, 349–355 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-020-04548-6

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