Effects of krill oil on serum lipids of hyperlipidemic rats and human SW480 cells

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colon cancer incidence are known to be closely related to dietary factors. This article evaluated effects of krill oil (KO) on serum lipids of hyperlipidemia rats and human colon cancer cells (SW480). Serum lipids of rats fed with high fat diet (HFD) and different doses of KO were measured by automatic analyzer. Effect of KO on viability of cells was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.

Results: Except for higher dose group, body weights decreased significantly. Total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) of all dose groups, Triglycerides (TG) of low and mid dose groups descended significantly, while there were no significant differences of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), compared with control group. Treatment of colon cancer cells with KO also resulted in time-dependent inhibition of cell growth.

Conclusion: Our findings indicated that the consumption of KO may provide benefits to control serum lipid levels in certain diseases and inhibit growth of colon cancer cells. Therefore, KO may be a good candidate for development as a functional food and nutraceutical.

Figure 1

Effects of KO on body weights of rats. The body weight of experimental rats ($\overline{\text{x}}$ ± s, g, n = 10) in the third (3rd w) and seventh (7th w) weeks. *, p < 0.05, compared with high lipid model control group; **, p < 0.01, compared with high lipid control group; a, p < 0.05, compared with medication group.

Figure 2

Effects of KO on Total Cholesterol content. Serum Lipids levels obtained after treatments with KO and lovastatin. The rats were fed for 4 weeks continuously. Data were mean values ± std for 10 rats.

Figure 3

Effects of KO on Triglycerides content. Serum Lipids levels obtained after treatments with KO and lovastatin. The rats were fed for 4 weeks continuously. Data were mean values ± std for 10 rats.

Figure 4

Effects of KO on HDL-Cholesterol content. Serum Lipids levels obtained after treatments with KO and lovastatin. The rats were fed for 4 weeks continuously. Data were mean values ± std for 10 rats.

Figure 5

Effects of KO on LDL-Cholesterol content. Serum Lipids levels obtained after treatments with KO and lovastatin. The rats were fed for 4 weeks continuously. Data were mean values ± std for 10 rats.

Figure 6

Effect of KO on cell viability time-dependent in human colon cancer SW480 cells. The cells were exposed to the specified concentration of KO for 48 h, 72 h and 120 h, and viability of cells were determined by MTT assay. Cell viabilities were described as percentages; vehicle-treated cells were regarded as 100% viable. Details were described in methods.