Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: In this research, positive effects of omega - 3 fatty acids on activities of some metabolic enzymes in rat liver were investigated at biochemical level. METHODS: In the study a total of 16 Wistar - Albino male rats were divided into two groups. Physiological serum was injected to the rats in the control group (n=8) with intragastric gavage method. 400 mg/kg omega - 3 fatty acids, body weight per dose, was administered to rats in the experimental group (n=8) by intragastric gavage method again. After six weeks of treatments all animals were killed by decapitation and liver tissue samples were taken. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities were detected in tissue samples. In addition to liver tissue, blood of the animals was also collected and aspartade aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were detected in serum samples. RESULTS: MDA level in omega - 3 fatty acid treated group was reduced in a statistically significant manner when compared with the control group rat liver tissue samples. The increase İn SOD and GSH-Px enzyme activities were also found statistically significant in this group when compared with the control group. Furthermore, the AST (U/L) and ALT (U/L) enzyme levels in serum of experimental group rats were significantly lower than control animals. No significant difference was detected on ALT (U/L) enzyme levels between two groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study we conducted on rats, it has been shown that omega - 3 fatty acids prevent oxidative damage and strengthen the antioxidant system in rat liver tissue.

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