Rapid reduction of liver steatosis in omega3-depleted rats injected with a novel lipid emulsion

The bolus intravenous administration of a novel medium-chain triglyceride: fish oil emulsion (MCT:FO) to normal subjects was recently found to increase within 60 min the amount of long-chain polyunsaturated omega3 fatty acids ( omega3) in platelet and leukocyte phospholipids and, hence, was proposed as a tool to prevent such pathological events as cardiac arrhythmia in selected patients who have to undergo urgent anesthesia and/or surgery. This study investigates whether other cells located outside the vascular bed may also benefit from this procedure for replenishing phospholipids with omega3. For such a purpose, the MCT:FO emulsion (1.0 ml) was injected into normal or omega3-depleted rats examined, one hour later, for the content and fatty acid pattern of liver triglycerides and phospholipids. Control experiments included the administration of saline or a medium-chain triglyceride:olive oil emulsion. The results reveal that the bolus intravenous injection of MCT:FO to the omega3-depleted rats resulted in the enrichment of liver phospholipids in omega3 and a marked reduction in hepatic steatosis. In conclusion, it is proposed that such a procedure may indeed allow a rapid supply of omega3 not only to circulating and vascular endothelial cells but also to extravascular cells, with a resulting correction of the biochemical and biophysical defects linked to a deficiency in these fatty acids.