Effect of dietary fats and soybean phospholipid on hepatic fatty acid metabolism in mice

Abstract

The combined effect of γ-linolenic acid (GLA)-rich evening primrose oil and soybean phospholipid on lipid metabolism was investigated. Male ICR mice were fed diets containing 100 g/kg of coconut, safflower or GLA oil, supplemented with 31 g/kg of soybean oil or 50 g/kg of soybean phospholipid, for 21 d. All experimental diets provided the same amount of fatty acids. The diets containing GLA oil significantly reduced hepatic triacylglycerol levels compared with those containing coconut oil. The values obtained from diets containing GLA oil also tended to be lower than those obtained from the diets containing safflower oil. Soybean phospholipid, regardless of the type of dietary fat, reduced hepatic triacylglycerol levels. Therefore, the combination of GLA oil and soybean phospholipid was effective in causing a marked decrease in hepatic triacylglycerol levels. Changes in hepatic fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis may be responsible for the observed results.