EFFECTS OF A NEWLY DEVELOPED FAT EMULSION CONTAINING EICOSAPENTAENOICACID AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID ON FATTY-ACID PROFILES IN RATS

A new fat emulsion of symmetrical triacylglycerols, containing only ei cosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was developed . The effects of this preparation on serum and liver fatty acid compos ition were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a fat-free oral diet for 2 wk and were then divided into two groups. Seven rats w ere infused for 7 d with 1 mL of the new fat emulsion: which accounted for 1% of total caloric intake. The other 7 rats received saline. Bot h groups of rats received a fat-free diet during the infusion. EPA and DHA decreased to one third to one fifth of normal value after 2 wk on a fat-free diet. EPA and DHA of serum and liver remained at a low lev el in the control group throughout the study. But in the rats administ ered with the new fat emulsion, EPA and DHA increased rapidly and exce eded normal values in both serum and liver after 7 d of infusion. Decr eased arachidonic acid with increased 20:3n-9 resulted in the rise of the triene/tetraene (T/T) ratio to greater than 0.4, indicating an n-6 essential fatty acid deficiency in the control rats. In the group adm inistered the new fat emulsion, however, 20:3n-9 and total content of monounsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly, and the T/T ratio was less than than 0.4 in both serum and liver. In conclusion, the in travenous use of a newly developed fat emulsion containing EPA and DHA is useful in improving the EPA and DHA status of serum and liver with out any harmful effects. Beneficial effects are expected in the modula tion of inflammatory and stress response. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 19 98.