EFFECTS OF FISH-OIL RICH IN DOCOSAHEXAENO IC ACID ON BODY-COMPOSITIONAND N-BALANCE IN RATS

The fish oils rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were obtained from th e fats and oils surrounding the eye of tuna. The effects of DHA on bod y composition and N balance in rats were investigated. The amount of e xperimental diet intake and the growth rate of rats fed a DHA oil diet (DHA oil group) were the same as those of rats fed a corn oil diet (c orn oil group). The liver weight and the proportion of fat in the live r of the DHA oil group were lower than those of the corn oil group, wh ile the N balance of the DHA oil group was higher than that of the cor n oil group. Although the serum triglyceride and protein levels of bot h rat groups were the same, the serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholester ol and glucose levels of the DHA oil group were lower than those of th e corn oil group. The activity of serum transaminase of the DHA oil gr oup was lower than that of the corn oil group. This fish oil thus cont rolled the accumulation of fat in the liver and prevented the decrease of liver function.