Effect of yacon root on fatty acid profile in the liver of diabetic rats

HABIB N.C.; GENTA S.B.; SÁNCHEZ S. S.

San Miguel de Tucumán. Argentina

Congreso; XXIV Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán.; 2012

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán.

One of the most common manifestations of diabetes mellitus is the disturbance in lipid metabolism. Dyslipidemia plays a significant role in the development of premature atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular disease. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that the administration of FOS-rich yacon [Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Endl.) H. Robinson] flour to diabetic rats for 90 days resulted in a significant decrease in plasma triacylglycerol (TG) and very low-density lipoprotein levels. Since the liver is the main organ of synthesis of fatty acids (FA) and release of TG, the aim of this work was analyze whether the sub-chronic treatment of diabetic rats with yacon flour produces changes in the long chain saturated and unsaturated FA profile in the liver. Total FA, cholesterol and palmitic, stearic, elaidic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acid esters were determined in liver homogenates by GC-MS. Yacon treatment produced a significant decrease in total FA, palmitic, stearic, elaidic, oleic and linoleic acid esters concentration. No significant difference was evident in cholesterol and arachidonic acid values. This study demonstrates that FOS-rich yacon flour administered as a dietary supplement has positive effects on lipid metabolism in the liver of diabetic rats and could be potentially useful to prevent diabetic complications.