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Alpha-linolenic acid-enriched diet prevents myocardial damage and expands longevity in cardiomyopathic hamsters
Roberta Fiaccavento1, Felicia Carotenuto, Marilena Minieri
1Laboratorio di Cardiologia Molecolare e Cellulare, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
Insights
Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), improved heart function and survival in cardiomyopathic hamsters. ALA supplementation preserved heart structure and reduced fibrosis, offering potential benefits for hereditary cardiomyopathies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce ischemic cardiovascular disease risk.
- Hereditary cardiomyopathies with diffuse myocardial damage lack investigation regarding omega-3 PUFA effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)-enriched diet on delta-sarcoglycan-null cardiomyopathic hamsters.
- To assess ALA's impact on myocardial structure, function, gene expression, and survival.
Main Methods:
- Delta-sarcoglycan-null cardiomyopathic hamsters were fed either an ALA-enriched or standard diet from weaning.
- Myocardial structure, function, gene expression (myosin heavy chain isoforms, atrial natriuretic peptide, TGF-β1), and survival rates were analyzed.
Main Results:
- ALA-enriched hearts showed increased ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid accumulation and a higher eicosapentaenoic/arachidonic acid ratio.
- ALA administration preserved myocardial and mitochondrial membrane integrity, cell contacts, and signaling.
- Gene expression profiles remained normal, fibrotic areas were limited, hemodynamic indexes were safeguarded, and survival significantly increased in ALA-fed hamsters.
Conclusions:
- Dietary ALA supplementation preserves myocardial structure and function in hereditary cardiomyopathy models.
- ALA attenuates myocardial fibrosis and improves survival, highlighting its therapeutic potential.
- Beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFAs in cardiovascular disease are linked to myocardium preservation and reduced fibrosis.
Abstract:
Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that the increased intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly reduces the risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease, but no investigations have been performed in hereditary cardiomyopathies with diffusely damaged myocardium. In the present study, delta-sarcoglycan-null cardiomyopathic hamsters were fed from weaning to death with an alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)-enriched versus standard diet. Results demonstrated a great accumulation of ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid and an increased eicosapentaenoic/arachidonic acid ratio in cardiomyopathic hamster hearts, correlating with the preservation of myocardial structure and function. In fact, ALA administration preserved plasmalemma and mitochondrial membrane integrity, thus maintaining proper cell/extracellular matrix contacts and signaling, as well as a normal gene expression profile (myosin heavy chain isoforms, atrial natriuretic peptide, transforming growth factor-beta1) and a limited extension of fibrotic areas within ALA-fed cardiomyopathic hearts. Consequently, hemodynamic indexes were safeguarded, and more than 60% of ALA-fed animals were still alive (mean survival time, 293+/-141.8 days) when all those fed with standard diet were deceased (mean survival time, 175.9+/-56 days). Therefore, the clinically evident beneficial effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are mainly related to preservation of myocardium structure and function and the attenuation of myocardial fibrosis.
