Abstract
To compare the hypolipidemic effects of n6 linoleic acid. n3 $\alpha$-linolenic acid and n3 eicosapentaenoic acid in rats fed high carbohydrate(70% Cal) diet. male Sprague Dawley rats were fed different experimental diets for 6 weeks. which were different only in fatty acid composition. The dietary fats were beer tallow(BT) as a source of saturated fatty acid (SFA), corn oil(CO) for n6 linoleic acid(LA), perilla oil(PO) for n3 $\alpha$-linolenic acid(LL) and fish oil(FO) for n3 eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Plasma total cholesterol(Chol) level was increased by n6 LA but decreased by n3 LL and n3 EPA and most effectively reduced by n3 EPA. HDL-Chol level was raised by n6 LA, but there was no significant change in HDL-Chol levels by n3 LL and was lowered by n3 EPA. Plasma TG level was reduced by n6 LA, but lipogenesis in liver was not affected by n6 LA. However, plasma TG level was lowered by n3 LL and EPA. Both lipogenic enzyme activity and liver TC level were also decreased by n3 PUFA. The relative proportions of TG in VLDL was significantly lowered by n3 EPA. but the proportions of Apo B in VLDL was not changed by n3 EPA. Overall. the hypolipidemic effect was in the order of EPA+ DHA(n3) >LL(n3) >LA(n6) and fish oil and perilla oil rich in n3 PUFA may have important nutritional applications in the prevention and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.