Background Obesity is the number one preventable risk factor for chronic kidney
disease. Multiple observational studies have documented an association between
obesity and risk of kidney disease even after adjustment for obesity-related co-morbid
conditions, including diabetes mellitus. Because diet specially dietary fat has been
recognized as contributing to the development and prevention of obesity, the influence
of quantities and qualities of dietary fat on the pathogenesis of obesity related renal
disorders has been studied. It has been known that tissues of porpoise contain unique
structured-lipids as combination of iso-valeric acid (iso-C5:0) and ω-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA). It is well known that ω-3 PUFAs have lipidlowering
effects in animal and human studies. Omega3-polyunsaturated fatty acids
can prevent or alleviate obesity-related disorders through the suppression of fatty
acid synthesis, enhancement of fatty acid β-oxidation. In the present study the effect of
structural-lipids from porpoise adipose tissue (porpoise oil) on lipid metabolism was
investigated. Design In this study 4 groups of male albino rats (n=10/group): group 1
received control diet 10.6% fat, group 2 received high fat diet (HFD) 53.15% fat,
group 3 received HFD 53.15% fat with porpoise oil from start of induction of obesity
and group 4 received HFD 53.15% fat and followed by addition of porpoise oil for 4
weeks after induction of obesity. All groups were subjected to the assay of serum
levels of total lipid profile, urea, creatinine, fasting glucose and insulin as well as the
levels of free fatty acid (FFA), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Also,
renal tissue levels of triacylglycerol (TAG), FFA, and MDA and NO as well as aldose
reductase (AR) activity were assayed, with estimation of urinary albumin level.
Results: There was statistically significant improvement in all parameters of renal
function, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia under the effect of porpoise oil intake.
Conclusions: The current results might lead us to better utilization of porpoise oil
due to its content of ω-3 PUFA to reduce lipid deposition in the kidney tissue with
improving its functions, therefore presenting an opportunity for developing new
strategies to treat obesity.