Background:
In recent years, it has been found that different classes of free fatty acids (FFAs) can control gene expression in lipid metabolism and thus metabolic health. Irrational diet, especially high fructose intake leads to oxidative stress, high levels of saturated FFAs, changes in the phospholipid composition of mitochondrial membranes and dysfunction, activation of proinflammatory cytokines, leading to damage, including cell death. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of Black Sea mussels lyophilisate, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on lipid metabolism in fructose-induced obesity.

Material and Methods:
Twenty-four male rats were randomly assigned to three groups of eight animals each: HFD (20 % fructose in drinking water for 16 week) group, HFD + Black Sea mussels lyophilisate (ML) group and control group. Analysis of fatty acids was performed by Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry. The main markers of metabolic abnormalities (BMI, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides), the markers of oxidative stress (hepatic SOD 1, NOS 3) and plasma TNFα inflammatory marker were measured.

Results:
The results showed microvesicular steatosis, significantly elevated ratio of very long-chain saturated to unsaturated fatty acids- C20:0-C24:0 levels, BMI, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides liver SOD 1 and TNFα in HFD compared to the control group. In the group treated with ML rats the application of lyophilisate restored the observed changes in the studied parameters close to those of the control.

Conclusions:
HFD induces obesity and alters lipogenesis, which is probably associated with increased accumulation of many long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFAs), which cause oxidative and proinflammatory damage. Lyophilisates from Black Sea mussels protect against them, which makes them an interesting source for the prevention of socially significant obesity and cardiometabolic diseases.