Supplementation with antioxidant-rich extra virgin olive oil prevents hepatic oxidative stress and reduction of desaturation capacity in mice fed a high-fat diet: Effects on fatty acid composition in liver and extrahepatic tissues

• A high-fat diet (HFD) induced hepatic oxidative stress, steatosis, insulin resistance, and reduction of hepatic desaturation capacity.
• Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) rich in antioxidants and antioxidant capacity (polyphenols and α-tocopherol) content (EVOO III) prevents liver and systemic oxidative stress.
• EVOO III avoids HFD-induced diminution in hepatic desaturation capacity and in ω-3 and ω-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) levels.
• EVOO III attenuates liver enhancement in HFD-induced prolipogenic status and reduction in antioxidant capacity.
• Dietary supplementation with EVOO rich in antioxidants and antioxidant capacity prevents liver oxidative stress and reduction of biosynthesis and accretion of ω-3 LCPUFA in HFD-fed mice.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the effect of dietary supplementation with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in mice on the reduction of desaturase and antioxidant enzymatic activities in liver, concomitantly with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) profiles in liver and extrahepatic tissues induced by a high-fat diet (HFD).MethodsMale mice C57 BL/6 J were fed with a control diet (CD; 10% fat, 20% protein, 70% carbohydrates) or an HFD (60% fat, 20% protein, 20% carbohydrates) for 12 wk. Animals were supplemented with 100 mg/d EVOO with different antioxidant contents (EVOO I, II, and III).ResultsAfter the intervention, blood and several tissues were analyzed. Dietary supplementation with EVOO with the highest antioxidant content and antioxidant capacity (EVOO III) significantly reduced fat accumulation in liver and the plasmatic metabolic alterations caused by HFD and produced a normalization of oxidative stress−related parameters, desaturase activities, and LCPUFA content in tissues.ConclusionsData suggest that dietary supplementation with EVOO III may prevent oxidative stress and reduction of biosynthesis and accretion of ω-3 LCPUFA in the liver of HFD-fed mice.