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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oxidative modification of lipoproteins is a crucial step in atherosclerosis development. Isotopic-reinforced polyunsaturated fatty acids (D-PUFAs) are more resistant to reactive oxygen species-initiated chain reaction of lipid peroxidation than regular hydrogenated (H-)PUFAs. We aimed at investigating the effect of D-PUFA treatment on lipid peroxidation, hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis development. METHODS: Transgenic APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a well-established model for human-like lipoprotein metabolism, were pre-treated with D-PUFAs or control H-PUFAs-containing diet (1.2%, w/w) for 4 weeks. Thereafter, mice were fed a Western-type diet (containing 0.15% cholesterol, w/w) for another 12 weeks, while continuing the D-/H-PUFA treatment. RESULTS: D-PUFA treatment markedly decreased hepatic and plasma F2-isoprostanes (approx. -80%) and prostaglandin F2α (approx. -40%) as compared to H-PUFA treatment. Moreover, D-PUFAs reduced body weight gain during the study (-54%) by decreasing body fat mass gain (-87%) without altering lean mass. D-PUFAs consistently reduced plasma total cholesterol levels (approx. -25%), as reflected in reduced plasma non-HDL-cholesterol (-28%). Additional analyses of hepatic cholesterol metabolism indicated that D-PUFAs reduced the hepatic cholesterol content (-21%). Sterol markers of intestinal cholesterol absorption and cholesterol breakdown were decreased. Markers of cholesterol synthesis were increased. Finally, D-PUFAs reduced atherosclerotic lesion area formation throughout the aortic root of the heart (-26%). CONCLUSIONS: D-PUFAs reduce body weight gain, improve cholesterol handling and reduce atherosclerosis development by reducing lipid peroxidation and plasma cholesterol levels. D-PUFAs, therefore, represent a promising new strategy to broadly reduce rates of lipid peroxidation, and combat hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.06.916

Type

Journal article

Journal

Atherosclerosis

Publication Date

09/2017

Volume

264

Pages

100 - 107

Keywords

Atherosclerosis, Cholesterol metabolism, Hypercholesterolemia, Lipid peroxidation, Polyunsaturated fatty acids, Adiposity, Animals, Anticholesteremic Agents, Antioxidants, Aorta, Aortic Diseases, Apolipoprotein E3, Atherosclerosis, Biomarkers, Cholesterol, Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins, Dinoprost, Disease Models, Animal, F2-Isoprostanes, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Hypercholesterolemia, Lipid Peroxidation, Mice, Knockout, ApoE, Phenotype, Plaque, Atherosclerotic, Time Factors, Weight Gain