Natural production of omega-3 fats helps protect mice from obesity, unhealthy blood fats, and diabetes

Fat-1 mice, which produce ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), showed strong resistance to obesity and diabetes when challenged with high-fat diets.

• Endogenous production of ω-3 PUFAs in fat-1 mice did not change food intake but increased energy expenditure.
• The levels of ω-3 PUFAs and the ω-6/ω-3 ratios are critical for controlling blood glucose and obesity.
• Significant reductions in inflammatory markers were observed, including prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and TNF-α.
• Nuclear factor-κB signaling was nearly eliminated, indicating reduced chronic inflammation in fat-1 mice.
• Hepatic insulin signaling was markedly enhanced alongside increased activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ.
• Decreased activity of lipogenesis-related regulators was noted, while peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α activity, which promotes lipid breakdown, was significantly increased.

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