Fish oil and argan oil intake differently modulate insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in a rat model of dietary-induced obesity.

We investigated the potential metabolic benefits of fish oil (FO) or vegetable argan oil (AO) intake in a dietary model of obesity-linked insulin resistance. Rats were fed a standard chow diet (controls), a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) diet, or an HFHS diet in which 6% of the fat was replaced by either FO or AO feeding, respectively. The HFHS diet increased adipose tissue weight and insulin resistance as revealed by increased fasting glucose and exaggerated glycemic and insulin responses to a glucose tolerance test (intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test).

Benefits and side effects of different vegetable oil vectors on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and P2X7 cell death receptor activation.

Purpose: Ocular side effects in patients using eye drops may be due to intolerance to the vector used in eye drops. Castor oil is the commonly used lipophilic vector but has been shown to be cytotoxic. Effects on cells of four oils (olive, camelina, Aleurites moluccana, maize) were compared with those of castor oil in human conjunctival cells.

Fatty acid-induced changes in vascular reactivity in healthy adult rats.

Dietary fatty acids (FAs) are known to modulate endothelial dysfunction, which is the first stage of atherosclerosis. However, their exact role in this initial phase is still unclear. The effects of isolated or combined (by 2) purified FAs from the main FA families were studied on the vascular response of isolated thoracic aorta in healthy rats to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of dietary FAs in regulating vascular endothelial function.

Redox modulation of insulin signaling and endothelial function.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) recently emerged as critical signaling molecules in cardiovascular research. Several studies over the past decade have shown that physiological effects of vasoactive factors are mediated by these reactive species and, conversely, that altered redox mechanisms are implicated in the occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Oxidant stress occurs when ROS and/or RNS production exceeds the cell natural antioxidant systems, and pathological events ensue.

Mechanisms of action of dietary fatty acids in regulating the activation of vascular endothelial cells during atherogenesis.

Dietary long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil appear to be clearly efficient in regulating endothelial dysfunction (or activation), which is the first stage of atherogenesis. Studies on endothelial cells in vitro have shown that the main dietary PUFA and oleic acid may prevent endothelium activation either by inhibiting the expression of adhesion molecules or by improving the nitric oxide production. Saturated fatty acids and also linoleic acid do not inhibit endothelium activation.