Effects of hypercholesterolemic diet enriched with onion as functional ingredient on fatty acid metabolism in Wistar rats

Clara Colina-Coca, Luis M. Rodríguez-Alcalá, Javier Fontecha, Diana González-Peña, Begoña de Ancos, Concepción Sánchez-Moreno*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The complex biochemical composition of onions has been studied as a source of biological components with health-related properties. The evolution of hypercholesterolemia is associated with a large range of alterations considered as strong risk factors for many cardiovascular events. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of onion as functional ingredient on plasma, erythrocyte, liver and adipose tissue fatty acid composition in hypercholesterolemic male Wistar rats. Rats (n. = 24) were randomly divided into three groups: control (C), high-cholesterol (HC), and high-cholesterol enriched with onion (HCO) groups. At the end of 7. weeks, animals were anesthetized and euthanized by extracting blood by cardiac puncture. Plasma, erythrocytes, liver and adipose tissue were collected and immediately stored at - 80. °C. Fatty acid methyl esters were identified and quantified by GC/MS. Total fatty acid concentration decreased in liver and adipose tissue both in HC and HCO groups. SFA content was significantly higher in plasma, erythrocytes and liver in the C group compared to HC and HCO groups. In contrast, SFAs increased in adipose tissue both in HC and HCO groups compared to the C group. A significant increase in MUFA content in plasma was found in HC and HCO groups compared to the C group; in erythrocytes and liver the increase was lower. In plasma, PUFA content was significantly lower in HC and HCO groups compared to the C group. Interestingly, in liver and adipose tissue, PUFAs increased in HC and HCO groups compared to the C group. Results showed noticeable effects on individual fatty acid composition when assaying high-cholesterol diets in rats, in some cases enhanced by onion enrichment. Further research is needed to deeper understand the involved mechanisms and pathways.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)546-552
Number of pages7
JournalFood research international
Volume64
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs)
  • Hypercholesterolemic diet
  • Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)
  • Onion as functional ingredient
  • Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)
  • Saturated fatty acids (SFAs)

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