Estrogen and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation have a synergistic hypotriglyceridemic effect in ovariectomized rats

Abstract

The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), EPA and DHA, as well as estrogen have been shown to decrease circulating levels of triglyceride (TG), but their underlying mode of action is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of n-3 PUFA consumption and estrogen injection on TG metabolism. Rats (n = 48) were fed a modified AIN-93G diet with 0, 1, or 2 % EPA ? DHA relative to the total energy intake during 12 weeks. At 8 weeks, rats were ovariectomized (OVX), and after a 1-week recovery, rats were injected with either 17 beta-estradiol-3-benzoate (E2) or corn oil for the last 3 weeks. The n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection independently decreased the hepatic expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) (P < 0.05). There were interactions between n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection on hepatic expression of FAS and DGAT2. In addition, n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection up-regulated the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphorylated AMPK, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor a, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 in liver and skeletal muscle. E2 injection increased the expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta in skeletal muscle and liver, but n-3 PUFA consumption increased the expression of both receptors only in skeletal muscle. The present study suggests that the hypotriglyceridemic effects of n-3 PUFA consumption and E2 injection could be due to the down-regulation of hepatic TG synthesis and upregulation of TG oxidation in liver and skeletal muscle in OVX rats.