OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation associated with moderate swimming training on body composition, food efficiency and consumption, blood glucose, lipid profile, and muscle and liver glycogen of Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-day old Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: inactive, inactive with 2% conjugated linoleic acid supplementation, active, and active with 2% conjugated linoleic acid supplementation. They remained in individual cages with food and water ad libitum, temperature of 23±1ºC and a light and dark cycle of 12 hours for 8 weeks. The active groups swam for one hour three times per week. The animals were killed and the plasma, white and brown fat tissues, gastrocnemius muscle and liver were collected and weighted. RESULTS: Supplementation per se did not promote food intake or body weight changes in the animals. Fasting glucose (p<0.05) and high density lipoproteins (HDL, p<0.05) increased and triacylglycerols decreased. Supplementation associated with activity decreased body mass (p<0.05) and increased the relative weight of fat tissues, liver and fasting glucose. CONCLUSION: Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation associated with physical activity seems to influence energy balance. On the other hand, the increased liver weight indicates that intake of this fatty acid may have undesirable side-effects, increasing the chances of developing fatty liver. This new perspective makes way for new studies including histological analyses of the liver and gene expression of key enzymes from the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, associated or not with different physical training protocols.
Linoleic acid; Experimental studies; Swimming; Rats
