n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids ameliorate cognitive age-related impairments and depressive behaviour in unchallenged aged prediabetic rats

• Main Authors: Yu-Ru Guo, Yi-Hao Hsu, An Liang, Wan-Jung Lu, Chi-Hao Wu, Hsiu-Chuan Lee, Shih-Yi Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015-12-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Foods
• Subjects: Fatty acid; Cognitive impairment; Depression
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464615004685

Epidemiological studies have reported that nutritional deficit of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is closely related to depression and cognitive impairment in middle and later life. This study investigated the preventive effects of n-3 PUFA-rich oils on the behavioural impairment of unchallenged aged prediabetic rats by using a Morris water maze (MWM) test and forced swimming test (FST). Twenty 102-wk-old male SD male rats received a 35% sucrose solution and were fed with fish oil or flaxseed oil diets for 8 wk. Both treatments reduced the production of IL-6 and non-esterified fatty acids significantly. Both treatments demonstrated significantly quicker MWM acquisition, shorter FST immobility time and higher levels of nerve growth factor than did the control group. Thus, n-3 PUFA-rich oil might produce protective effects by improving fasting blood sugar levels and reducing proinflammatory cytokine levels, thus preventing cognitive age-related impairments and depression-like behaviour in aged prediabetic rats.