Nutrition & Metabolism (Jan 2010)

A low α-linolenic intake during early life increases adiposity in the adult guinea pig

  • Pescia Gregory,
  • Moulin Julie,
  • Castañeda-Gutiérrez Eurídice,
  • Cuilleron Claude,
  • Pace-Asciak Cecil,
  • Reynaud Denis,
  • Grenot Catherine,
  • Aprikian Olivier,
  • Pouteau Etienne,
  • Beysen Carine,
  • Turner Scott,
  • Macé Katherine

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-7-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background The composition of dietary fatty acids (FA) during early life may impact adult adipose tissue (AT) development. We investigated the effects of α-linolenic acid (ALA) intake during the suckling/weaning period on AT development and metabolic markers in the guinea pig (GP). Methods Newborn GP were fed a 27%-fat diet (w/w %) with high (10%-ALA group), moderate (2.4%-ALA group) or low (0.8%-ALA group) ALA content (w/w % as total FA) until they were 21 days old (d21). Then all animals were switched to a 15%-fat diet containing 2% ALA (as total FA) until 136 days of age (d136). Results ALA and docosapentaenoic acid measured in plasma triglycerides (TG) at d21 decreased with decreasing ALA intake. Total body fat mass was not different between groups at d21. Adipose tissue TG synthesis rates and proliferation rate of total adipose cells, as assessed by 2H2O labelling, were unchanged between groups at d21, while hepatic de novo lipogenesis was significantly 2-fold increased in the 0.8%-ALA group. In older GP, the 0.8%-ALA group showed a significant 15-%-increased total fat mass (d79 and d107, p Conclusion A low ALA intake during early postnatal life promotes an increased adiposity in the adult GP.