Differential effects of conjugated linoleic acid isomers in insulin-resistant female C57Bl/6J mice☆

Abstract 

Obesity is associated with a high risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, management of body weight to prevent obesity remains as an important priority. The present investigation addresses the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers on body weight and composition of body fat in female C57Bl/6J mice. To investigate the differential effects of individual CLA isomers and their mixture on changes in lean mass, fat mass, glucose and insulin, 6-month-old female C57BL/6J mice were fed with 10% corn oil (CO) as a dietary fat source and either supplemented with purified cis 9,trans 11 (c9t11) CLA (0.5%) or trans 10,cis 12 (t10c12) CLA (0.5%) and/or their mixture (50:50) for 6 months. As a result of 6 months' dietary intervention, both the t10c12-CLA and CLA mix showed increased lean mass and reduced fat mass compared to the CO and c9t11-CLA groups. Insulin resistance was, however, increased in t10c12-CLA and CLA mix-fed groups based on the results of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), the revised quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (R-QUICKI) and also with intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). In conclusion, long-term feeding of the major CLA isomers in 12-month-old C57Bl/6J mice revealed a contrasting effect on fat mass, glucose and insulin metabolism. The t10c12 isomer is found to reduce the fat mass and increase the lean mass but significantly contributed to increase insulin resistance and liver steatosis, whereas c9t11 isomer prevented the insulin resistance.

Keywords: Conjugated linoleic acid, Fat mass, Glucose, Insulin, Lean mass, Obesity