Margarine supplemented with conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) has no effect on atherosclerosis but alleviates the liver steatosis and affects the expression of lipid metabolism genes in apoE/LDLR‐/‐ mice

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of margarine supplemented with punicic acid (cis-9,trans-11,cis-13 C18:3) (CLnA) compared to CLA and linolenic acid (LnA) in apoE/LDLR-/- mice in two independent experiments: LONG (18 weeks) and SHORT (10 weeks). Liver weight was increased in CLA group in both studies. Hepatic steatosis was found in animals fed CLA and margarine diets but less signs of the steatosis were observed in mice fed LnA and CLnA diets. In LONG, TC was significantly increased in animals fed LnA, whereas LDL + VLDL, HDL and TAG levels were unchanged. In mice fed CLnA the upregulated expression of PPARα and ACO was reported, however, SREBP-1 was 7-fold increased. Punicic acid and CLA isomers were determined both in adipose tissue and liver in CLnA fed mice. No effects of treatments on the area of atherosclerotic plaque were recognized. In conclusion margarine supplemented with CLA significantly increased liver weight and induced steatosis in mice in both studies. Our results did not support the notion that CLnA supplementation to the margarine possesses anti-atheroclerotic effect but it alleviated the liver steatosis and affected the expression of lipid metabolism genes. Practical applications: It has been reported that conjugated linolenic acid isomers (CLnA) have several health-related effects. Margarine with omega-3 fatty acids is commonly used as a functional food product. Therefore, the effect of margarine supplemented with CLnA compared to CLA and linolenic acid (LnA) in apoE/LDLR-/- mice was evaluated. CLA supplementation increased liver weight and lead to steatosis, but CLnA alleviated the liver steatosis in mice. No effects of treatments on the area of atherosclerotic plaque were recognized. The up-regulated expression of PPARα and SREBP-1 and their target genes ACO and FAS was reported for studied fatty acids. More research is warranted to assess the potential health-related properties of conjugated linolenic acids as bioactive compounds in the context of production of functional foods. Effect of margarine supplemented with pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) on development of atherosclerotic plaque, liver steatosis, lipid profile and expression of lipid metabolism genes in apoE/LDLR-/- mice.