Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Effect on Neuropathy of the Peripheral Nervous System in Dietary Obese Rats: Is the Source of These Fatty Acids Important for Outcome?

Eric Davidson; Oleksandr Obrosov; Lawrence Coppey; Mark Yorek

doi:10.2147/DMSO.S522285

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Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Effect on Neuropathy of the Peripheral Nervous System in Dietary Obese Rats: Is the Source of These Fatty Acids Important for Outcome?

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Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Effect on Neuropathy of the Peripheral Nervous System in Dietary Obese Rats: Is the Source of These Fatty Acids Important for Outcome?

Eric Davidson, Oleksandr Obrosov, Lawrence Coppey and Mark Yorek

Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity, Vol.18(Issue 1), pp.2709-2721

2025

DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S522285

PMCID: PMC12341837

PMID: 40799308

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Abstract

To answer the question what is the best source or composition of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that will provide the most favorable and safe outcome for peripheral neuropathy (PN) in an animal model of obesity? Traditionally encapsulated fish oil is the primary source of omega-3 PUFA as a nutritional supplement. However, other sources exist that could be a better environmental, safety, and/or economic choice. Male Sprague Dawley rats 12 weeks of age were fed a 45% kcal diet to induce obesity and model pre-diabetes. Early and late intervention protocols were used to determine the ability of omega-3 PUFA derived from menhaden (fish) oil, krill oil, algal oils, or ethyl esters to slow the progression or reverse PN associated with pre-diabetes by examining multiple endpoints of sensory nerve function, morphometry and vascular reactivity. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are the primary omega-3 PUFA, and a combination exist in fish and krill oil. However, algal oils and ethyl esters are available as EPA, DHA, or EPA & DHA and each were used in this study. We report that multiple sources of omega-3 PUFA are a proactive treatment for PN that occurs with pre-diabetes including improvement in sensory nerve conduction velocity, thermal nociception and cornea sensitivity and corneal nerve fiber length. Improvement in vascular reactivity of epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve was observed. We also report that EPA and DHA had different outcomes for these endpoints. We confirm that omega-3 PUFA are an effective treatment to prevent and reverse PN associated with obesity and pre-diabetes. Additional studies will be needed to definitively determine what would be the best and most consistent source of this important nutritional supplement from an environmental and economical viewpoint.

Obesity

peripheral neuropathy

omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

fish oil

Details

Title: Subtitle: Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Effect on Neuropathy of the Peripheral Nervous System in Dietary Obese Rats: Is the Source of These Fatty Acids Important for Outcome?
Creators: Eric Davidson - University of Iowa
Oleksandr Obrosov - University of Iowa
Lawrence Coppey - University of Iowa
Mark Yorek - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity, Vol.18(Issue 1), pp.2709-2721
DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S522285
PMID: 40799308
PMCID: PMC12341837
NLM abbreviation: Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes
ISSN: 1178-7007
eISSN: 1178-7007
Publisher: DOVE MEDICAL PRESS LTD
Grant note: I01 RX003826 / RRD VA R01 DK126837 / NIDDK NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2025
Academic Unit: Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Endocrinology and Metabolism; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984946846302771

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