Background/Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate different saturated fatty acids on cardiovascular, liver and metabolic responses in rats.
Methods: Rats were fed 20% lauric (HLA), myristic (HMA), palmitic (HPA) or stearic (HSA) acids or beef tallow (HCHF) for 16 weeks with increased fructose and condensed milk. Control rats were fed a corn starch (C) diet. Food and water consumption, body weight, body composition, heart stiffness, blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid profiles and liver function of rats were measured.
Results: Final body weight ranked HLA < C < HMA = HPA = HSA < HCHF rats with HLA rats showing 11.1% decrease. Total fat mass reflected changes in body weight with HLA (54.4±3.2g) < C (79.5±11.0g) < HPA (122.7±12.9g) = HSA (122.9±9.5g) = HMA (132.4±9.9g) < HCHF rats (207.7±27.2g). Left ventricular diastolic stiffness (κ) was similar in control (22.0±0.5) and HLA rats (21.8±1.0) but less than HMA (25.3±0.7), HPA (26.6±0.7), HSA (27.0±0.4) and HCHF rats (28.2±0.5). Systolic blood pressure increased with C (127.7±1.1 mmHg) < HLA (136.2±5.3 mmHg) = HMA (141.7±1.2 mmHg) < HPA (150.4±2.5 mmHg) = HSA (152.9±3.5 mmHg) = HCHF rats (157.8±2.8 mmHg). HLA rats showed improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and attenuated dyslipidaemia compared to HMA, HPA, HSA and HCHF rats. Plasma liver enzymes increased in HLA, HMA, HPA, HSA and HCHF rats compared to C rats.
Conclusion: For most parameters, lauric acid produced less pathophysiological changes than other saturated fatty acids in this model of diet-induced metabolic syndrome.
Funding Source: University of Southern Queensland