Dietary trans fatty acids alter diaphragm phospholipid fatty acid composition, triacylglycerol content and glucose transport in rats.

The present study evaluates the effect of dietary trans fatty acids on diaphragm phospholipid fatty acid composition, intramyocellular triacylglycerol content and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in comparison with dietary saturated fatty acids. Male weanling WNIN rats were divided into three groups and fed for 3 months on one of the following diets containing 10% oil differing in fatty acid composition: control diet, saturated fatty acid diet and trans fatty acid diet. Dietary trans fatty acids increased the intramyocellular triacylglycerols and decreased the ratio of 20 : 4n-6 to 18 : 2n-6 and long-chain PUFA levels (20%) in diaphragm phospholipids, indicating inhibition of PUFA biosynthesis. However, saturated fatty acids decreased both 18:2n-6 and 20:4n-6 without change in the ratio. Trans fatty acid-induced alterations in diaphragm phospholipid fatty acid composition and intramyocellular triacylglycerol content were associated with decreased insulin-stimulated glucose transport in the diaphragm. These observations suggest that dietary trans fatty acids decrease diaphragm insulin sensitivity, possibly due to increased intramyocellular triacylglycerol accumulation and decreased long-chain PUFA in phospholipids.