Effect of Lifelong Exposure to Dietary Plant and Marine Sources of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Morphologic and Gene Expression Biomarkers of Intestinal Health in Early Life.

Altered intestinal health is also associated with the incidence and severity of many chronic inflammatory conditions, which could be attenuated via dietary n-3 PUFA interventions. However, little is known about the effect of lifelong exposure to n-3 PUFA from plant and marine sources (beginning in utero via the maternal diet) on early life biomarkers of intestinal health. Harems of C57Bl/6 mice were randomly assigned to one of three isocaloric AIN-93G modified diets differing in their fat sources consisting of the following: (i) 10% safflower oil (SO, enriched in n-6 PUFA), (ii) 3% flaxseed oil + 7% safflower oil (FX, plant-based n-3 PUFA-enriched diet), or (iii) 3% menhaden fish oil + 7% safflower oil (MO, marine-based n-3 PUFA-enriched diet). Mothers remained on these diets throughout pregnancy and offspring (n = 14/diet) continued on the same parental diet until termination at 3 weeks of age. In ileum, villi:crypt length ratios were increased in both the FX and MO dietary groups compared to SO (p < 0.05). Ileum mRNA expression of critical intestinal health biomarkers was increased by both n-3 PUFA-enriched diets including Relmß and REG3γ compared to SO (p < 0.05), whereas only the FX diet increased mRNA expression of TFF3 and Muc2 (p < 0.05) and only the MO diet increased mRNA expression of ZO-1 (p < 0.05). In the proximal colon, both the FX and MO diets increased crypt lengths compared to SO (p < 0.05), whereas only the MO diet increased goblet cell numbers compared to SO (p < 0.05). Further, the MO diet increased proximal colon mRNA expression of Relmß and REG3γ (p < 0.05) and both MO and FX increased mRNA expression of Muc2 compared to SO (p < 0.05). Collectively, these results demonstrate that lifelong exposure to dietary n-3 PUFA, beginning in utero, from both plant and marine sources, can support intestinal health development in early life. The differential effects between plant and marine sources warrants further investigation for optimizing health.

Effect of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Inflammatory and Metabolic Function in an Obese Skeletal Muscle Cell Culture Model.

The fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have been shown to impact both skeletal muscle metabolic and inflammatory function; however, their effects within the obese skeletal muscle microenvironment are unknown. In this study, we developed a skeletal muscle in vitro model to mimic the critical features of the obese skeletal muscle microenvironment using L6 myotubes co-treated with 10 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 500 µM palmitic acid (PA) for 24 h ± individual SCFAs, namely acetate, propionate and butyrate at 0.5 mM and 2.5 mM. At the lower SCFA concentration (0.5 mM), all three SCFA reduced the secreted protein level of RANTES, and only butyrate reduced IL-6 protein secretion and the intracellular protein levels of activated (i.e., ratio of phosphorylated-total) NFκB p65 and STAT3 (p < 0.05). Conversely, at the higher SCFA concentration (2.5 mM), individual SCFAs exerted different effects on inflammatory mediator secretion. Specifically, butyrate reduced IL-6, MCP-1 and RANTES secretion, propionate reduced IL-6 and RANTES, and acetate only reduced RANTES secretion (p < 0.05). All three SCFAs reduced intracellular protein levels of activated NFκB p65 and STAT3 (p < 0.05). Importantly, only the 2.5 mM SCFA concentration resulted in all three SCFAs increasing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake compared to control L6 myotube cultures (p < 0.05). Therefore, SCFAs exert differential effects on inflammatory mediator secretion in a cell culture model, recapitulating the obese skeletal muscle microenvironment; however, all three SCFAs exerted a beneficial metabolic effect only at a higher concentration via increasing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, collectively exerting differing degrees of a beneficial effect on obesity-associated skeletal muscle dysfunction.

Parental Cooking Confidence is Associated with Children's Intake of Fish and Seafood.

Purpose: Fish and seafood consumption by North American children is low. This is concerning, given the critical role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), found in fish and seafood, in early development. This study aimed to determine whether parental factors related to fish and seafood consumption are associated with frequency of fish and seafood consumption in Canadian children.Methods: A subgroup of parents (n = 28) participating in the Guelph Family Health Study Pilot reported their perceptions and history of fish and seafood consumption, confidence in preparing fish and seafood dishes, and the frequency of intake for their children (n = 40).Results: This study found that 20% of children consumed one serving of saltwater fish, freshwater fish, or shellfish weekly and 63% consumed at least one type of fish or seafood monthly. Parental cooking confidence preparing fish and seafood was positively associated with at least monthly fish and seafood intake in children.Conclusions: These findings suggest that some children may have low intakes of fish and seafood due to a lack of parental cooking confidence when preparing fish and seafood dishes. Therefore, future research and interventions focused on addressing this barrier may aid in improving fish and seafood intake.

Sensory evaluations of a novel iron and zinc-enriched powder for the potential treatment and prevention of iron deficiency in women of reproductive age.

Iron deficiency (ID) and ID with anaemia (IDA) are serious global health problems that disproportionately affect women aged 15-49 years. Although food fortification is one of the most effective and sustainable ways to combat nutritional deficiencies, iron remains one of the most difficult micronutrients to fortify, given its tendency to react strongly with food constituents. Therefore, it is important to assess the sensory properties of foods fortified with iron to determine the acceptability and palatability in target populations. We aimed to determine the palatability and acceptability of a novel iron and zinc-enriched powder fortified in tap water by conducting sensory evaluations in 35 women of reproductive age using a 9-point hedonic scale, where participants rated the sensory properties of six samples containing different amounts of the active or placebo powder. We found significant differences between samples reconstituted at 1, 2, and 3 g/L for sensory properties, including overall taste. Participants were found to be more willing to drink the mineral-enriched powder when prepared at the lowest concentration (1 g/L) compared to higher concentrations. Our results provide important insight into the sensory qualities of a novel formulation of an iron and zinc-enriched powder for at-home fortification and indicate consumer acceptability in reproductive-aged women, a key group at risk for ID/IDA. If found to improve iron status, novel treatments like this product will contribute to global efforts to develop safe, acceptable and sustainable interventions for ID and IDA.

The Dose-Response Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on the Omega-3 Index in American Football Athletes.

PURPOSE: American-style football (ASF) players are at increased risk for head injuries and cardiovascular disease. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are cardioprotective, and emerging evidence suggests benefits for protection against head injuries. However, fundamental knowledge of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid dosing in athletes such as ASF players remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the dose-response effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation in red blood cells (RBC) and as the Omega-3 Index (O3I), in collegiate ASF players throughout a competitive season. METHODS: Sixty-nine ASF players were randomly assigned placebo (corn oil), or 2, 4, or 6 g·d -1 of DHA supplement. Blood samples were collected at eight time points (T1-T8) over 27 wk. RBC were extracted and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Compliant players who had samples collected at all time points were analyzed. A repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to assess the dose-response effect of DHA over time, and between-group differences at individual time points were assessed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test. RESULTS: A significant dose and time interaction was found, and all supplement groups had significantly greater DHA in RBC compared with placebo from T2-T8 ( P < 0.05). Athletes receiving 6 g·d -1 of DHA had the greatest O3I, relative to other groups, and the O3I reached steady state by 15 wk. The 6 g·d -1 group surpassed >8% on the O3I at approximately twice the rate of the 4 g·d -1 group (8 vs 15 wk). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide important fundamental knowledge demonstrating a dose-response incorporation of DHA into RBC membranes up to 6 g·d -1 . Furthermore, 6 g·d -1 of DHA can be used to rapidly achieve a desired O3I (>8%) in athletes in only 8 wk.

Intakes of PUFA are low in preschool-aged children in the Guelph Family Health Study pilot cohort.

This study investigated intakes of total, n-3, and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in 109 preschool-aged children who participated in the Guelph Family Health Study pilot. Intakes of total, n-3, and n-6 PUFA did not meet recommendations. This study highlights the need for additional monitoring and potential interventions to improve PUFA intake in preschool-aged children. Clinical Trial #NCT02223234. Novelty: Canadian preschool-aged children are not consuming enough n-3 and n-6 PUFA.

Fish oil supplementation increases expression of mammary tumor apoptosis mediators and reduces inflammation in an obesity-associated HER-2 breast cancer model.

Obesity is associated with inflammation and has been shown to increase breast cancer severity. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of fish oil (FO) supplementation in obesity-associated mammary tumorigenesis in the MMTV-neu(ndl)-YD5 mouse model of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positive BC. Female mice were fed one of three diets for 16 weeks: i) high fat diet [HF, % kacl: 41.2% lard, 18.7% corn oil (CO)], ii) an isocaloric HF plus menhaden FO diet (HF+FO, % kcal: 41.2 lard, 13.4% CO, 5.3% FO), iii) low fat diet (LF, % kcal: 4.7% lard, 6% CO). HF mice had increased body weight, visceral adipose weight and serum hormone concentrations (increased leptin and resistin; decreased adiponectin) versus LF, which was attenuated in the HF+FO group versus HF (P<.05). Compared to HF, tumor onset was delayed in HF+FO and LF mice (P<0.05). Compared to HF, HF+FO reduced mammary tumor multiplicity (-27%), tumor weight (-46%) and total tumor volume (-50%) (P<0.05). Additionally, HF+FO reduced mammary tumor multiplicity (-33%), tumor weight (-39%) and total tumor volume (-60%) versus LF. HF+FO improved mammary tumor apoptosis status with increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bad and decreased expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xLmediators versus HF (P<0.05). Additionally, HF+FO decreased tumor protein expression of activated Akt, NFκB p65 and STAT3, versus HF (P<0.05). Tumor mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators TNFα, IL-6 and leptin were reduced in HF+FO, whereas IL-10 expression was increased compared to HF (P<0.05). Collectively these results demonstrate the efficacy of FO supplementation for improving obesity-associated breast cancer outcomes.

Analysis of major fatty acids from matched plasma and serum samples reveals highly comparable absolute and relative levels.

Measuring fatty acid (FA) levels in blood as a risk factor for chronic disease has been studied extensively. Previous research has used either plasma or serum samples to examine these associations. However, whether results from plasma and serum samples can be compared remains unclear, as differences in methodology related to the separation of plasma and serum from whole blood may impact FA levels. This study analyzed the individual FA content of matched plasma and serum samples in both absolute (µg/mL) and relative percent (%) composition. Analyses were performed using archived fasted morning samples from the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study (FAMAS). Matched plasma and serum samples were available from 98 male subjects aged 40-85. Total FA were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GLC-FID). Analyses comprised of over 60 FA including major FA such as Palmitic Acid (PA), Palmitoleic acid (POA), Stearic Acid (SA), Oleic Acid (OA), Linoleic Acid (LNA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Arachidonic Acid (ARA), and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Differences between groups was determined by t-test. Correlation and Bland-Altman analyses were also performed to examine the relationship between plasma and serum samples. There were no significant differences between major plasma and serum fatty acids expressed in µg/mL and relative % composition. Correlation analysis determined a strong and significantly positive association (r ≥ 0.65, p < 0.05) between major plasma and serum FA in absolute and relative terms. Bland-Altman analysis further supported the strong agreement between plasma and serum values in both absolute and relative terms. These findings demonstrate that studies reporting plasma or serum fatty acid analyzed by GLC-FID can be compared with one another.

Differentiating the biological effects of linoleic acid from arachidonic acid in health and disease.

Dietary fatty acids are associated with the development of many chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and several cancers. This review explores the literature surrounding the combined and individual roles of n-6 PUFAs linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) as they relate to immune and inflammatory response, cardiovascular health, liver health, and cancer. The evidence suggests that a pro-inflammatory view of LA and AA may be over simplified. Overall, this review highlights gaps in our understanding of the biological roles of LA, AA and their complex relationship with n-3 PUFA and the need for future studies that examine the roles of individual fatty acids, rather than groups.