J Nutr. 2002 Jan;132(1):11-9.
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids improve histological and biochemical
alterations in rats with experimental ulcerative colitis.
Nieto N, Torres MI, Rios A, Gil A.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Granada, 18071
Granada, Spain.
The aim of the present study was to determine whether dietary intake of
monounsaturated (MUFA) and/or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the (n- 3)
and (n-6) series could improve intestinal damage and reduce inflammation in
experimental ulcerative colitis (UC). Rats were treated with 80 mg/kg body of
2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid and fed for 1 or 2 wk diets enriched in olive
oil (OO), fish oil (FO), or purified pig brain phospholipids (BPL), as sources
of monounsaturated and PUFA of the (n-3) and (n-3) + (n-6) series. Evaluation of
macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage was assessed. Ultrastructural and
histologic changes were analyzed as well as plasma and colonic mucosa fatty acid
profiles and some biochemical markers of injury and inflammation [alkaline
phosphatase (AP), mieloperoxidase (MPO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and
leukotriene B(4)]. Fatty acid profiles of both plasma and mucosa mostly
reflected the dietary fatty acid composition. Plasma MUFA proportions were
higher in UC animals fed the OO diet compared with FO or BPL groups 1 and 2 wk
and (n-3) long chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) were higher in the FO than in the OO and BPL
groups. At 1 wk, UC led to lower MUFA mucosa levels and (n-3)LC-PUFA were higher
in the FO group compared with the OO and BPL groups. Rats with UC fed FO at 1 wk
showed significantly less macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage. They also
have lower AP and MPO activities and PGE(2) levels compared with the OO and BPL
groups and showed enhanced histological repair, less necrotic areas within the
mucosa, and more goblet cells with mature mucin granules. These results suggest
that the use of balanced diets containing (n-3) LC-PUFA could ameliorate the
inflammation and mucosal damage in UC.
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