Dietary fat type and level affect thyroid hormone plasma concentrations in rats

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of dietary fat source and level on plasma thyroid hormone concentrations. For three weeks, male Wistar rats (n=54) were fed diets containing fats differing in fatty acid (FA) composition: sunflower oil predominantly containing polyunsaturated n-6 FA, group S; rich in monounsaturated FA rape seed oil, group R; and saturated FA palm oil, group P; at three levels (w/w): 5% LF, 10% MF, and 20% HF. Total thyroxine levels were higher in group P than R on the LF and MF diets. The free thyroxine concentration in rats on the LF diet was higher in group R than in S and P; on the MF diet, higher in group R and P than S; and on the HF diet, higher in group P than S. Triiodothyronine levels were influenced by fat composition only in rats fed the HF diet, being lower in group S than P. The results of this study suggest that diets differing with respect to fat type and level might have opposite effects on thyroid hormone values.