POPs In Farmed Atlantic Salmon May Be Linked To Insulin Resistance, Obesity, Liver Problems In Rats

[hatrack]

EDIT

Adult male rats were fed for 28 days either crude or refined fish oil obtained from farmed Atlantic salmon carcasses. The crude fish oil contained the levels of POPs that people are typically exposed to after eating the fish. The refined fish oil contained no POPs and was fed to the control rats. The levels of fat in both diets were the same.

After exposure, the researchers measured body weight, whole-body insulin sensitivity and levels of POPs in each group. They compared the levels of fat, triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol and cholesterol in the rat livers. They also determined how well rats could regulate sugars and fats and measured the expression of several key genes that are thought to be involved in the metabolic process.

In a parallel study, fat cells were exposed to the types of POPs that were stored in the fish fat cells at similar levels found in the salmon oil. The effects on sugar uptake by the cells were measured. Adult rats exposed to the crude fish oil – which contained the POPs mixture – put on belly fat and developed insulin resistance and liver disease. The rats could not regulate fat properly. They had higher levels of cholesterol and the fatty acids triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol in their livers. In contrast, none of these changes were seen in the rats that ate fish oil without the POPs.

Although blood levels of insulin and sugar were similar among rats with either diet, the rats exposed to POPs had impaired insulin action. The POPs also altered the expression of number of genes involved in metabolism, which could explain the changes in fat and sugar regulation.

Similar results on insulin and gene expression were seen in the cultured fat cells that were exposed to a POPs mixture similar to that found in the fish oil. The POPs – especially the organochlorine pesticides – drastically inhibited insulin's action and the cells' ability to take up glucose, a first step in insulin resistence.The cells expressed fewer of the genes that regulate fat and sugar levels.


EDIT

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/pops-lead-to-insulin-resistance-in-rats/

[MercutioATC]

1. I guess rats shouldn't eat salmon...

:evilgrin:

[timeforpeace]

4. Correct. Unfortunately the "study" is being used to justify depletion of wild salmon stocks over

farm raised salmon.

[wolfgangmo]

2. Good study and evocative of what the likely response in humans would be.

The bottom line is to eat food and not processed crap. Unfortunately the food corps know that there is a growing movement to start eating food again and are now invading the perimiter of the grocery store.

[On the Road]

3. That Seems Like a Good Study

although the term Persistent Organic Pollutant was a new one.