Partial replacement of corn oil with chia oil into a high fat diet produces either beneficial and deleterious effects on metabolic and vascular alterations in rabbits

Abstract

Background: the beneficial effects of Salvia hispanica (chia) seed on metabolic parameters have been widely studied. However, there are little evidence about the effects of chia seed oil (ChO) on metabolic syndrome (MS). Thus, we aimed to evaluate the isocaloric partial replacement of corn oil with ChO into a high fat diet on metabolic parameters and vascular alterations in a model of MS. Methods: rabbits were fed either regular diet (CD); CD supplemented with 3% ChO (CD-Ch); CD supplemented with 8% lard and 10 % corn oil (HFD) or HFD in which 3% of corn oil was replaced with ChO (HFD-Ch), for 6 weeks. Results: HFD-Ch reduced the HFD-induced rise of triglycerides and n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio. However, the deleterious effect of HFD on fasting glucose (FG), abdominal obesity and glucose tolerance was worsened. Reduction of palmitoleic acid level in plasma from HFD-Ch may account for worsening of FG. HFD-Ch reversed the HFD-induced endothelial dysfunction and sensitized aortic tissues to angiotensin II. Mechanism of such phenomenon may involve the lowest increase of linolenic acid levels in erythrocyte membranes from HFD-Ch compared to CD-Ch. Conclusion: partial replacement of corn oil with ChO into HFD produced both beneficial and harmful effects on MS.