The profile of urinary lipid metabolites in cats.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids including arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are converted to lipid mediators by oxidation. Unlike other mammals, cats cannot synthesize AA. Since their lipid metabolic features remain unknown, we qualitatively analyzed 118 types of urinary lipid metabolites in healthy neutered cats. Using LC-MS, we found 26 lipid metabolites in urines of all individuals. In detail, 20 AA-, 5 EPA- and 1 DHA-derived lipid mediators were detected. Focusing on oxidative pathway, 17 cyclooxygenase-metabolites and 5 metabolites produced by non-enzymatic pathway were detected. Of interest, few lipoxygenase- or cytochrome P450-metabolites were excreted. Thus, AA-derived cyclooxygenase-metabolites mainly composed the urinary lipid metabolites in cats.

Milk protein-based formulas containing different oils affect fatty acids balance in term infants: A randomized blinded crossover clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Palm olein is used in infant formula fat blends in order to match the fatty acid profile of human milk. While the effects on fatty acid balance have been evaluated, the use of palm olein in combination with palm kernel oil and supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) has not been similarly assessed in infants. This study evaluated the effects of infant formulas containing different fat compositions on the balance of fat, fatty acids, and calcium. METHODS: In this randomized, crossover, double-blinded study, 33 healthy term infants (68-159 ± 3 days of age at enrollment) were fed two formulas for 14 days in a tolerance period, followed by a 4-day metabolic balance period in 17 of the male subjects. The study compared two commercially available milk-based powdered formulas in Brazil; the PALM formula contained palm olein (44%), kernel palm oil (21.7%), and canola oil (18.5%) as the predominant fats, whereas the NoPALM formula contained other fat sources. RESULTS: Fat absorption (%) was greater for NoPALM versus PALM-fed infants (96.55 and 95.50%, respectively; p = 0.023). The absorption percentage of palmitic acid (C16:0) did not differ significantly between formulas (p > 0.05), but this acid was excreted at significantly higher concentrations in the PALM (29.42 mg/kg/day) than in the NoPALM (12.28 mg/kg/day) formula groups. DHA and ARA absorption percentages were also higher in NoPALM-fed infants. Calcium absorption was higher in NoPALM-fed infants (58.00%) compared to those fed PALM (40.90%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.104) when calcium intake was used as a covariate. However, calcium retention was higher in NoPALM-fed infants compared to that in PALM-fed infants with or without calcium intake as a covariate. Adverse events did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The absorption of essential fatty acids was similar for both formulas; however, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA and ARA) were better absorbed from the NoPALM formula. Fat absorption and calcium retention were lower in term infants fed the PALM-based formula. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrial.gov # NCT00941564 .

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid is retroconverted in man to eicosapentaenoic acid, which can be quickly transformed to prostaglandin I3.

In a 24 h kinetic study docosahexaenoic acid (DCHA, C22:6n-3) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) were given in a single dose to healthy male volunteers. PGI3-M, the main urinary metabolite of prostaglandin I3 was below the detection limit in the control periods, but was excreted already in the first 4 h after ingestion of DCHA or EPA and decreased thereafter. Excretion of PGI2-M did not change significantly. In a second dietary trial DCHA and EPA were given cross-over to 7 healthy male volunteers for 6 days. PGI3-M was formed after DCHA and EPA in amounts of 35 and 20% of PGI2-M and showed a considerable interindividual variation. The structure of PGI3-M was verified by independent biochemical synthesis. Our data indicate that dietary DCHA is retroconverted to EPA in man, which is quickly transformed--like dietary EPA itself--to prostaglandin I3. DCHA may therefore serve as a precursor fatty acid for EPA and its cyclooxygenated and lipoxygenated products.