Cafeteria Diet Increases Prostaglandin E 2 Levels in Rat Prostate,Kidney and Testis

Abstract

Nutrient composition, particularly the omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio, may differently affect inflammatory mediators production in tissues, which could be causally related to increased cancer incidence in obesity. We evaluated prostaglandin E₂ levels in male Wistar rat prostate, kidney and testicle tissues after 15 days of either a high fat, cafeteria-style diet (5.50 Kcal/g, 30% calories from fat, omega-6/omega-3 ratio 2.33) or a standard laboratory chow diet (3.35 Kcal/g, 3% calories from fat, omega-6/omega-3 ratio 0.56). In the cafeteria diet compared to standard laboratory diet rats, we found both an increase in weight gain and increased prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) levels in prostate, kidney and testicle tissues. The increased levels of PGE₂ induced by the cafeteria diet could drive an inflammatory process leading to increased incidence of prostate, kidney and testicular cancer in overweight patients.