Long-chain (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids prevent metabolic and vascular disorders in fructose-fed rats.

The crossover relationship between cardiometabolic risk, in terms of insulin resistance and vascular dysfunction, and the fatty acid (FA) profile of insulin-sensitive tissues as well as the dietary FA impact has almost never been explored in the same experiment. In this study, the intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) alone and/or with its higher metabolites, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were evaluated in a nonobese, hypertriglyceridemic and insulin-resistant rat model, that exhibits the 2 main characteristics of metabolic syndrome. Wistar rats were fed either a cornstarch and (n-6) PUFA-based diet (C-N6) or a 66% fructose diet over a 10-wk period.