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Nutrient Interactions and Toxicity
Research Communication

Long-Term Intake of trans (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Reduces the b-Wave Amplitude of Electroretinograms in Rats¹

INRA, Unité de Nutrition Lipidique, Dijon, France and ^* Laboratoire de Biophysique Sensorielle, Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université d’Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand, France

²To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: chardign{at}dijon.inra.fr.

Weanling rats were fed three diets differing in their concentrations of the cis- and trans-isomers of -linolenic acid [18:3(n-3)] for 12 mo to study the long-term effects of these fatty acids on the electroretinogram (ERG). The diets contained 18:3(n-3) in its natural form at 2.0 g/100 g total fatty acids (C group), partially isomerized 18:3(n-3) [1.3 g/100 g cis 18:3(n-3) + 0.7 g/100 g trans 18:3(n-3); cT group] and the control level of cis 18:3(n-3) with trans 18:3(n-3) [2.0 g/100 g cis 18:3(n-3) + 0.7 g/100 g trans 18:3(n-3); CT group]. The ERG and the levels of trans-isomers of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of retinal and hepatic phospholipids were determined after 3, 6, 9 and 12 mo of feeding the experimental diets. Dietary trans -linolenic acid altered the fatty acid composition of retinal and hepatic phospholipids by significantly increasing the 19trans-isomer of docosahexaenoic acid. Moreover, dietary trans-isomers of -linolenic acid significantly decreased the b-wave amplitude of the ERG by 9 mo of feeding. We conclude that long-term intake of small amounts of trans-isomers of -linolenic acid could disturb visual function. However, further studies are required to determine the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon.

KEY WORDS: • rats • fatty acids • electroretinogram • trans polyunsaturated fatty acids