The effect of conjugated linoleic acid isomers on fatty acid profiles of liver and adipose tissues and their conversion to isomers of 16:2 and 18:3 conjugated fatty acids in rats

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collective term that describes different isomers of linoleic acid with conjugated double bonds. Although the main dietary isomer is 9cis,11trans-18∶2, which is present in dairy products and ruminant fat, the biological effects of CLA generally have been studied using mixtures in which the 9cis,11trans- and the 10trans,12cis-18∶2 were present at similar levels. In the present work, we have studied the impact of each isomer (9cis,11trans- and 10trans,12cis-18∶2) given separately in the diet of rats for 6 wk. The 10trans,12cis-18∶2 decreased the triacylglycerol content of the liver (−32%) and increased the 18∶0 content at the expense of 18∶1n−9, suggesting an alteration of the Δ9 desaturase activity, as was already demonstrated in vitro. This was not observed when the 9cis,11trans-18∶2 was given in the diet. Moreover, the 10trans,12cis-18∶2 induced an increase in the C₂₂ polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver lipids. The 10trans,12cis-18∶2 was mainly metabolized into conjugated 16∶2 and 18∶3, which have been identified. The 9cis,11trans isomer was preferentially metabolized into a conjugated 20∶3 isomer. Thus, the 9cis,11trans- and the 10trans,12cis-CLA isomers are metabolized differently and have distinct effects on the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids in rat liver while altering liver triglyceride levels differentially.