Omega-3 Fatty Acids Attenuate Brain Alterations in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Model

Aline Haas de Mello, Rosiane de Bona Schraiber, Mariana Pereira de Souza Goldim, Michelle Lima Garcez, Maria Luiza Gomes, Gustavo de Bem Silveira, Rubya Pereira Zaccaron, Patrícia Fernanda Schuck, Josiane Budni, Paulo Cesar Lock Silveira, Fabricia Petronilho, Gislaine Tezza Rezin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of omega-3 on inflammation, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism parameters in the brain of mice subjected to high-fat diet-induced obesity model. Body weight and visceral fat weight were evaluated as well. Male Swiss mice were divided into control (purified low-fat diet) and obese (purified high-fat diet). After 6 weeks, the groups were divided into control + saline, control + omega-3, obese + saline, and obese + OMEGA-3. Fish oil (400 mg/kg/day) or saline solution was administrated orally, during 4 weeks. When the experiment completed 10 weeks, the animals were euthanized and the brain and visceral fat were removed. The brain structures (hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and striatum) were isolated. Treatment with omega-3 had no effect on body weight, but reduced the visceral fat. Obese animals showed increased inflammation, increased oxidative damage, decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and levels, changes in the Krebs cycle enzyme activities, and inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes in the brain structures. Omega-3 treatment partially reversed the changes in the inflammatory and in the oxidative damage parameters and attenuated the alterations in the antioxidant defense and in the energy metabolism (Krebs cycle and mitochondrial respiratory chain). Omega-3 had a beneficial effect on the brain of obese animals, as it partially reversed the changes caused by the consumption of a high-fat diet and consequent obesity. Our results support studies that indicate omega-3 may contribute to obesity treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)513-524
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular Neurobiology
Volume56
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Brain
  • Energy metabolism
  • Inflammation
  • Obesity
  • Omega-3
  • Oxidative stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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