Dietary enrichment with medium chain triglycerides (AC-1203) elevates polyunsaturated fatty acids in the parietal cortex of aged dogs: implications for treating age-related cognitive decline

Neurochem Res. 2009 Sep;34(9):1619-25. doi: 10.1007/s11064-009-9952-5. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Abstract

Dogs demonstrate an age-related cognitive decline, which may be related to a decrease in the concentration of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in the brain. Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) increase fatty acid oxidation, and it has been suggested that this may raise brain n-3 PUFA levels by increasing mobilization of n-3 PUFA from adipose tissue to the brain. The goal of the present study was to determine whether dietary MCT would raise n-3 PUFA concentrations in the brains of aged dogs. Eight Beagle dogs were randomized to a control diet (n = 4) or an MCT (AC-1203) enriched diet (n = 4) for 2 months. The animals were then euthanized and the parietal cortex was removed for phospholipid, cholesterol and fatty acid determinations by gas-chromatography. Dietary enrichment with MCT (AC-1203) resulted in a significant increase in brain phospholipid and total lipid concentrations (P < 0.05). In particular, n-3 PUFA within the phospholipid, unesterified fatty acid, and total lipid fractions were elevated in AC-1203 treated subjects as compared to controls (P < 0.05). Brain cholesterol concentrations did not differ significantly between the groups (P > 0.05). These results indicate that dietary enrichment with MCT, raises n-3 PUFA concentrations in the parietal cortex of aged dogs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / drug effects
  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy
  • Dietary Fats
  • Dogs
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / analysis
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / metabolism*
  • Parietal Lobe / chemistry
  • Parietal Lobe / metabolism*
  • Phospholipids / analysis
  • Triglycerides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Phospholipids
  • Triglycerides