Cardiac lipids in rats and gerbils fed oils containing C22 fatty acids

Docosenoic acid from rapeseed oil or herring oil in the diet of the young rat promoted an accumulation of cardiac lipid. The triglyceride fraction accounted for most of the deposited fat and contained a high concentration of the docosenoic acid. Liquid rapeseed oil, partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil or partially hydrogenated herring oil increased the amount of cardiac fatty acids at 1 week and led to the development of degenerative lesions at 16 weeks. Whale or seal oils low in C₂₂ fatty acids produced little effect on the amount of lipids in the heart of rats or gerbils. The latter species receiving 20% rapeseed oil in the diet showed a peak in cardiac lipid deposition at 4 days with similar levels of total fatty acids to that of rats, but with a lower concentration of erucic acid. Oil fromLimnanthes douglasii and hydrogenated herring oil also increased the amount of cardiac fatty acids in gerbils. A high intake of docosenoic acid was common to the animals displaying the cardiac alterations. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, Atlantic City, October 1971.