Influence of dietary lecithin and oils rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the fatty acid content of rat muscle and serum

Forty-eight (Wistar) rats were divided into 3 groups and fed semi-synthetic diets containing various types of fat (6%): rape seed, linseed, or fish oi l. Half of the animals in each group received lecithin (5% of the mixture). The content of fatty acids in the serum and m. longissimuss dorsi was dete rmined, as well as serum triacylglycerides (TAG) and total cholesterol (TCh ). It was found that feeding fish oil increased the percentage of eicosapen taenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids in the serum and muscle tissu e, while the addition of linseed oil increased the content of oc-linolenic acid and EPA in these tissues. The addition of lecithin raised the percenta ge of serum linoleic acid and decreased, EPA and DHA. TAG and TCh concentra tions were much lower in the animals receiving lecithin and fish oil in the ir diets and, to a lesser degree, also in those receiving linseed oil, in c omparison with rats fed rape seed oil.