The effect of cocoa supplementation on hepatic steatosis, reactive oxygen species and LFABP in a rat model of NASH

Background Non alcoholic steatohepatitis is hypothesised to develop via a mechanism involving fat accumulation and oxidative stress. The current study aimed to investigate if an increase in oxidative stress was associated with changes in the expression of liver fatty acid binding protein in a rat model of non alcoholic steatohepatitis and whether cocoa supplementation attenuated those changes. Methods Female Sprague Dawley rats were fed a high fat control diet, a high fat methionine choline deficient diet, or one of four 12.5% cocoa supplementation regimes in combination with the high fat methionine choline deficient diet. Results Liver fatty acid binding protein mRNA and protein levels were reduced in the liver of animals with fatty liver disease when compared to controls. Increased hepatic fat content was accompanied by higher levels of oxidative stress in animals with fatty liver disease when compared to controls. An inverse association was found between the levels of hepatic liver fatty acid binding protein and the level of hepatic oxidative stress in fatty liver disease. Elevated NADPH oxidase protein levels were detected in the liver of animals with increased severity in inflammation and fibrosis. Cocoa supplementation was associated with partial attenuation of these pathological changes, although the severity of liver disease induced by the methionine choline deficient diet prevented complete reversal of any disease associated changes. Red blood cell glutathione was increased by cocoa supplementation, whereas liver glutathione was reduced by cocoa compared to methionine choline deficient diet fed animals. Conclusion These findings suggest a potential role for liver fatty acid binding protein and NADPH oxidase in the development of non alcoholic steatohepatitis. Furthermore, cocoa supplementation may have be of therapeutic benefit in less sever forms of NASH

Comparison of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid contents of wild and cultured Australian abalone

The fatty acid contents of wild and cultured Australian adult blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra , were analysed by gas liquid chromatography. Wild abalone contained significantly higher levels of total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) and a -linolenic acid (18:3n-3) than cultured abalone ( P B / 0.05). The predominant n-3 PUFA was docosapentaenoic acid in wild abalone, while in cultured abalone a high level of eicosapentaenoic acid was found. The concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was low in both wild and cultured abalone, and cultured abalone had a significantly higher percentage composition of this fatty acid than wild abalone ( P B / 0.01). Significantly higher levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), 22:2n-6, 22:4n-6 and total n-6 PUFA were also found in wild abalone than in cultured animals ( P B / 0.05). The ratio of n-3 PUFA to n-6 PUFA was the same in wild and cultured abalone. Manipulation of nutrient sources of cultured abalone may influence their lipid composition. Consump- tion of either wild or cultured abalone will contribute to dietary n-3 PUFA intake, with benefits to human health

Seasonal variations of total lipid and fatty acid contents in the muscle of two Australian farmed abalone species

The total lipid content and individual fatty acid (FA) concentrations of two farmed abalone species, greenlip abalone ( Haliotis laevigata ) and blacklip abalone ( Haliotis rubra ), were analyzed through four seasons using gas liquid chromatography. Similar variations were recorded for the two species. Sig- nificantly higher concentrations of total lipid and total saturated fatty acids were found in summer, while the contents of total n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and total monounsaturated fatty acids were markedly higher in winter and spring. The two predominant n-3 PUFAs were eicosap- entaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3; 34–43%) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3; 40–53%). The seasonal variation of EPA was similar to that of total n-3 PUFA, while the contents of DPA were significantly higher in winter, spring and summer than in autumn. A higher n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio was found in winter and autumn in greenlip abalone. Other main FAs, including 16:0, 18:0, 17:1, 18:1n-9, 18:1n-7, 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6 and 22:2 NMI, also showed seasonal variations. Farmed abalone represents a source of the health-benefiting long- chain n-3 PUFA (n-3 LC-PUFA) for human consumption, with n-3 LC-PUFA content of 65–106 mg/100 g