Elevated dietary ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids induce reversible peripheral nerve dysfunction that exacerbates comorbid pain conditions.

ABSTRACT: Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide¹ and is commonly associated with comorbid disorders². However, the role of diet in chronic pain is poorly understood. Of particular interest is the Western-style diet, enriched with ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that accumulate in membrane phospholipids and oxidise into pronociceptive oxylipins^3,4. Here we report that mice administered an ω-6 PUFA-enriched diet develop persistent nociceptive hypersensitivities, spontaneously active and hyper-responsive glabrous afferent fibres and histologic markers of peripheral nerve damage reminiscent of a peripheral neuropathy. Linoleic and arachidonic acids accumulate in lumbar dorsal root ganglia, with increased liberation via elevated phospholipase (

SUBMITTER: Boyd JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8287645 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature