A diet rich in certain healthy fats reduces liver fat buildup and changes liver fat composition in obese rats

Rats on a canola/flax oil blend diet showed 20% less liver lipid after 12 weeks compared to weight-matched groups.

• The canola/flax oil blend diet is associated with significant reductions in liver lipid levels.
• Body mass, liver weight, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fatty acid processing markers did not explain the observed reduction in liver lipids.
• Hepatic phospholipids from the canola/flax oil blend group contained the highest levels of total n-3 fatty acids and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
• This group also exhibited one of the highest concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the lowest levels of arachidonic acid (n-6).
• The findings indicate that a diet rich in plant-based n-3 fatty acids may alter the fatty acid profile in the liver.

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