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Health News Archive 592 - Body Fat
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Omega-3 DHA Suppresses Production of Fat Cells

New research shows that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil, fights excess body weight by averting the development of fat cells.

Working with immature fat cells (cultured pre-adipocytes), researchers at the University of Georgia, Athens showed that levels of DHA obtainable through diet and supplements may help thwart obesity by preventing new fat cells from forming and encouraging existing fat cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). DHA also encouraged adipose cells to release their stores of fatty acids, a process popularly referred to as “burning fat.” This fat reduction occurred in a dose-dependent manner - greater amounts of EPA had a greater benefit.

Previous research has shown that dietary omega-3 fatty acids decrease body fat and fat accumulation in rodents, but the present study helps explain precisely how DHA works to reduce obesity. This novel research indicates the potential for fish oil supplementation to enhance the efficacy of diet and exercise programs in overweight subjects. There are a number of good fish oils on the market, but one of the best new ways to get omega-3 polyunsaturated fats - EPA and DHA - is from krill oil.

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6), a (n-3) fatty acid in fish oil, has been shown to decrease body fat and fat accumulation in rodents. We investigated the direct effect of DHA on cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and lipolysis using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Cells were treated with 25–200 µmol/L DHA containing 0.2 mmol/L -tocopherol or bovine serum albumin vehicle as a control. Proliferation of preconfluent preadipocytes was not affected by the DHA treatment. When added to postconfluent preadipocytes, all concentrations of DHA inhibited differentiation-associated mitotic clonal expansion (P < 0.01). Postconfluent preadipocytes demonstrated apoptosis after 48 h with 100 µmol/L DHA and after 24 and 48 h with 200 µmol/L DHA (P < 0.01). Differentiation was examined by Oil Red O staining and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity after DHA treatment for 6 d. DHA decreased mean droplet size and percent lipid area in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). GPDH activity was also decreased by DHA treatment (P < 0.01). In fully differentiated adipocytes, DHA increased basal lipolysis compared with the control (P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that DHA may exert its antiobesity effect by inhibiting differentiation to adipocytes, inducing apoptosis in postconfluent preadipocytes and promoting lipolysis.

Source: Kim HK, Della-Ferra M, Lin J, Baile CA. Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits adipocyte differentiation and induces apoptosis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. J Nutr. 2006 Dec (12);136:2965-9.

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