Abnormal Essential Fatty Acid Composition of Tissue Lipids in Genetically Diabetic Mice Is Partially Corrected by Dietary Linoleic and Gamma-Linolenic Acids

In a study from 1985, genetically diabetic mice (db/db) and their non-diabetic littermates were fed diets supplemented with either safflower oil or evening primrose oil, which are rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), or with hydrogenated coconut oil, which lacks EFAs, for 15 weeks. The diabetic mice that received the EFA-rich oils had higher plasma glucose levels than those without supplementation, but this was not the case for non-diabetic mice. Diabetic mice showed a significant decrease in arachidonic acid in their pancreatic phospholipids, which was prevented by the EFA-rich oils but not by the hydrogenated coconut oil. In the liver phospholipids of diabetic mice, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid was increased, a condition that was reduced by safflower oil supplementation. Additionally, in the liver triglycerides of diabetic mice, gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid were all decreased, but this was prevented by supplementation with safflower or evening primrose oil. The diabetic mice also exhibited alopecia and dry scaly skin, which were less severe in those supplemented with EFAs.