Abstract
The effects of dietary 1, 3-diacylglycerol-rich oil (DG oil) on glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated in comparison with triacylglycerol (TG) oil in female genetically obese Wistar fatty rats. The obese rats and their lean littermates (8 wk old) were fed a synthetic diet containing 10% (w/w) DG or TG oil for 5wk, The body weights, abdominal fat weights, and the plasma and liver TG concentrations were not significantly different due to dietary fat type in the obese and lean rats. The plasma glucose concentrations were significantly elevated by dietary DG oil as compared to TG oil in the portal vein and inferior vena cava of obese and lean rats. The plasma free fatty acid concentrations were markedly elevated by dietary DG oil as compared to TG oil in the portal vein and inferior vena cava of both genotype rats, particularly in the obese rats. In the glucose tolerance test, the obese rats fed DG oil showed glucose intolerance, possibly due to the markedly elevated plasma free fatty acids. Thus, the effects of dietary DG oil on lipid-lowering effects and anti-obesity were not observed in either genotype in the present study. Moreover, it is remarkable that glucose intolerance was induced by dietary DG oil in the genetically obese rats.
