Cod liver oil consumption and lipid peroxidation

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study is to assess the effect of feeding dietary cod liver oil containing [n-3] polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA] [i.e., eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid] on lipid levels, lipid peroxidation status and the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase GP[x]-4. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats [average 40 g] were divided into 3 groups. They fed diets containing 19.1% cod liver oil + 0.9% corn oil, 20% corn oil and 20% coconut oil for 3 weeks. Serum, liver and kidney values of triacylglycerols [TG], total cholesterol [IC] and phospholipids [PL] were estimated. Lipid peroxidation status in liver was determined as malondialdehyde [MDA] level, cupper- zinc superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity and the gene expression of GP[x]-4. Cod liver oil fed rats showed significant decreased lipid parameters levels in serum, liver and kidney compared with the other two dietary groups, except serum TG concentrations were not differ significantly among the three dietary groups. Both hepatic MDA and SOD activity were significantly elevated by feeding cod liver oil diet compared by the other two dietary groups. However, there was no alteration in the gene expression of GP[x]-4 in liver tissue of rats induced by feeding any of the three dietary oils. Thus, [n-3] PUFA contained in cod liver oil is highly susceptible to peroxidation and exert beneficial effects toward the prevention of cardiovascular diseases [CVD]