A cholesterol and sucrose rich diet promotes lipoprotein peroxidation and impairs insulin sensitivity in rats

The effects of a diet rich in cholesterol and sucrose on lipoprotein peroxidation and insulin sensitivity were studied in rats. The protective role of fish oil dietary supplementation, both alone and associated with antioxidants, was also investigated. Four groups of 6 male rats were treated for 4 weeks with a standard diet, rich in cholesterol and sucrose (atherogenic diet), atherogenic diet plus fish oil and atherogenic diet plus fish oil enriched in polycosanols, terpenes and antioxidants. Atherogenic diet induced a significant increase in plasma concentration of cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and atherogenic index; moreover, it significantly enhanced the susceptibility of lipoproteins to peroxidation and the resistance to insulin. Dietary integration with fish oil limited the development of the above risk factors, the association with polycosanols, terpenes and antioxidants being more efficacious than fish oil alone.