Original Paper

A Combination of (ω–3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Polyphenols and L-Carnitine Reduces the Plasma Lipid Levels and Increases the Expression of Genes Involved in Fatty Acid Oxidation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and HepG2 Cells
Ulla Radler^a, Herbert Stangl^a, Sigrid Lechner^a, Gerhard Lienbacher^d, Rainer Krepp^d, Eduard Zeller^d, Martin Brachinger^d, Doris Eller-Berndl^d, Andreas Fischer^d, Christian Anzur^e, Gerhard Schoerg^e, Daniel Mascher^f, Claudia Laschan^c, Christian Anderwald^b, Alfred Lohninger<sup>a

a</sup>Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Institute of Medical Chemistry and
^bDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, and
^c3rd Department of Medicine, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna,
^dHealth Care Center Pielachtal, Frankenfels,
^eUniversity of Applied Sciences, Wiener Neustadt, and
^fPharm-Analyt, Baden, Austria

Address of Corresponding Author

Ann Nutr Metab 2011;58:133-140 (DOI: 10.1159/000327150)

  Key Words

• ω–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Carnitine
• Polyphenols
• Plasma lipids
• Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• HepG2 cells
• Gene expression

  Abstract

Background: Hyperlipidemia and obesity are associated with metabolic syndrome and increased risk in developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Nutritional supplements, e.g. L-carnitine and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), exert lipid-lowering effects. Hence, the hypothesis that dietetic intervention reduces plasma lipid levels and metabolic enzymes in overweight hyperlipidemic subjects was tested. Subjects and Methods: In a prospective placebo-controlled double-blind study in 22 moderately hyperlipidemic obese humans consuming low-fat yoghurt enriched with a combination of low-dose PUFAs, polyphenols and L-carnitine (PPC) twice a day for 12 weeks were compared to 20 matching participants ingesting low-fat yoghurt. The effects on plasma lipids and expression of enzymes involved in regulation of fatty acid oxidation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HepG2 cells were evaluated. Results: PPC consumption led to significantly reduced plasma free fatty acid (–29%) and triglyceride (–24%) concentrations (each p < 0.05). PPC application increased significantly peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) mRNA abundances and those of PPARα target genes (carnitine palmitoyltransferases-1, CPT1A and CPT1B, carnitine acetyltransferase and organic cation transporter 2; each p < 0.05) in PBMCs. In controls, plasma lipid levels and PBMC gene expression did not change. These findings were substantiated by the results of cell culture experiments in HepG2 cells. Conclusion: Supplementation of PPC had marked lipid-lowering effects and PBMC gene expression profiles seemed to reflect nutrition-related metabolic changes.

Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

A. Lohninger
Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Institute of Medical Chemistry
Medical University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 10
AT–1090 Vienna (Austria)
Tel. +43 1 4277 60873, E-Mail alfred.lohninger@meduniwien.ac.at

  Article Information

Received: June 30, 2010
Accepted after revision: March 7, 2011
Published online: April 29, 2011
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 42