Mechanism of blocked lipogenesis induced in rats by feeding extremely hydrogenated fat

¹ Department of Experimental Pathology, Medical Academy in Pozna, Poland

In order to explain the disappearance of depot fat in rats fed on a diet containing 50% by weight of extremely hydrogenated vegetable fat, experiments were performed in which the diet inhibiting lipogenesis was enriched with biotin. Biotin was effective in maintaining normal adipose tissue stores. The dermal essential fatty acid deficiency syndrome which occurred in this dietary group was prevented by the administration of linoleic acid. Cecal contents of rats kept on diets with hydrogenated fat were analyzed for biotin concentration and showed depressed intestinal synthesis of this vitamin by the bacterial flora. These data suggest that the inhibited lipogenesis in animals fed extremely saturated fat is the result of essential fatty acid deficiency and thereby of a reduced synthesis (and increased utilization) of biotin required as coenzyme of fatty acid synthesis in the nonmitochondrial system of lipogenesis.

Key Words: essential fatty acid deficiency • biotin synthesis

Submitted on August 7, 1964