Effect of different dietary fats on inflammation and glucose intolerance in high fructose and high fat fed experimental animals.

OBJECTIVES

Diet is the major modifiable risk factor for the onset of insulin resistance and its progression into diabetes. In the present study the effect of various dietary fats on inflammatory homeostasis and glucose tolerance is investigated in high fat and high fructose fed mice model.

METHODS

C57/BL6J mice were divided into four groups and fed a casein-based diet containing high fructose (45%) and high fat (24%) (clarified butter oil [CBO]; safflower oil [SFFO] and lard oil [LO]) for 120 days; oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), plasma lipid profile and plasma & adipose tissue cytokines levels were compared with the control diet (10% groundnut oil and 59.5% starch) fed animals.

RESULTS

The total cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in CBO and LO fed animals with glucose intolerance and increased body weights; liver and white adipose tissue weights were higher in CBO and LO fed animals respectively. CBO feeding increased the plasma (IFN-γ) and adipose tissue cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6 & TNF-α). LO feeding increased plasma IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1β and adipose tissue IL-6. SFFO feeding decreased body weight and tissue cytokines and increased plasma IFN-γ levels without causing impairment in the glucose tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

Consumption of a high fructose and high fat diet which mimic the present-day dietary pattern resulted in altered inflammatory homeostasis and impairment in glucose tolerance in 24% CBO and LO fed animals. The deleterious effects of high fructose feeding were reversed in SFFO fed mice possibly due to the presence of oleic and linoleic acids.