Protective effect of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2010.10.010

Nutrition Research

Volume 30, Issue 12, December 2010, Pages 849-857

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2010.10.010 Get rights and content

Abstract

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) complications, such as chronic arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Improved myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury results in smaller myocardial infarction, which is a major factor in the occurrence of CHD complications. We hypothesized that a specific dietary fatty acid profile (low in saturated and n-6 PUFA but high in plant and marine n-3 PUFA) may improve myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury and reduce infarct size. To test this assumption, we used a well-defined rat model of myocardial infarction. Based on our results, in comparison to a diet that is high in either saturated or n-6 PUFA but poor in plant and marine n-3 PUFA, a diet that is low in saturated fats and n-6 PUFA but rich in plant and marine n-3 PUFA results in smaller myocardial infarct size (P < .01). The effects of the 3 diets were also examined by analyzing the fatty acid composition of plasma, erythrocyte cell membranes, and the phospholipids of myocardial mitochondria. The results show a great accumulation of n-3 PUFA and a parallel decrease in arachidonic acid, the main n-6 PUFA, in plasma, cell membranes, and cardiac mitochondria (P < .0001). We conclude that improved myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion may be one of the critical factors explaining the protective effects of dietary n-3 PUFA against CHD complications in humans. In addition to increasing n-3 PUFA intake, an optimal dietary pattern aimed at reducing cardiovascular mortality should include a reduction of the intake of both saturated and n-6 PUFA.

Introduction

Dietary fats play an important role in coronary heart disease (CHD) complications [1], [2], [3], [4]. Apart from their effects on atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and cardiac arrhythmia [1], [2], [3], [4], it is still unclear whether specific dietary fatty acid profiles modulate the resistance of the myocardium to ischemia and reperfusion injury. This is a critical issue because myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion is a major determinant of myocardial infarct size, which is a causal factor in the development of CHD complications, such as cardiac pump failure and fatal ventricular arrhythmia, which are the main causes of cardiac death in humans. Therefore, it is critical to identify which specific fatty acid profile may be optimal in improving myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The main hypothesis of this study was that a fatty acid profile low in animal and plant saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, and plant n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) but rich in both plant and marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) results in improved myocardial resistance and smaller infarct size in a rat model of myocardial infarction. We also examined the fatty acid changes in plasma, red cell membranes, and cardiac mitochondria resulting from the tested diet. Myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion was assessed using a well-defined model of myocardial infarction in rats.

Section snippets

Methods and materials

This study was conducted with the approval of the local animal ethics committee and in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, National Academic Press, Washington, DC, 1996, and the European Council Directive 86/609/EEC on the care and use of laboratory animals (OJ L 358). The protocols were performed under license from the French Ministry of Agriculture (license no. A380727).

Results

After 8 weeks of supplementation, the SO group was slightly heavier than the PO and MED groups, although the differences did not achieve statistical significance (Fig. 1). In the lipid measurement experiments, 2 animals in the SO group were excluded from the analysis of cardiac phospholipids because of technical problems. In the cardiac experiments, 3 animals were lost at the time of the ischemia-reperfusion experiments (technical difficulties) and another 5 were excluded because no ischemic

Discussion

This study shows that an increased intake of n-3 PUFA combined with a low intake of n-6 PUFA and saturated fatty acids will result in smaller myocardial infarct size. This may result in a decreased risk of major complications after acute myocardial infarction (ie, cardiac pump failure and fatal arrhythmia). In this study, we used an isolated heart model that allowed us to study the response of the myocardium independently from other organs, neurologic brain-heart connections, and blood

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a grant from the Institut de Recherche sur les Boissons.

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Protective effect of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Methods and materials

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgment

Lancet

Lancet

J Mol Cell Cardiol

J Biol Chem

Anal Bioch

Academic Press

Am J Med

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Prostaglandins

Biochim Biophys Acta

J Moll Cell Cardiol

Am J Clin Nutr

J Nutr

Am Heart J

J Am Coll Cardiol

J Nutr

J Nutr

Am J Pathol

Neuroscience

J Lipid Res

J Nutr

Eur J Pharmacol