Cognitive and physiological effects of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that Omega-3 fatty acids may play a role in nervous system activity and that they improve cognitive development and reference memory-related learning, increase neuroplasticity of nerve membranes, contribute to synaptogenesis and are involved in synaptic transmission. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Omega-3 supplementation on some cognitive and physiological parameters in healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were tested at the beginning of the experiment and after 35 days. In this period they were supplemented with Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. A group was supplemented with olive oil (placebo). Tests involving different types of attention were used, i.e. Alert, Go/No-Go, Choice and Sustained Attention. For each test, the reaction time, the event-related potentials by electroencephalogram (EEG) and the electromyography (EMG) of the forefinger flexor muscle were recorded. The Profile of Mood States test (POMS) was also administered. RESULTS: Blood analyses showed that after Omega-3 supplementation the arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio (AA/EPA) was strongly reduced. The mood profile was improved after Omega-3 with increased vigour and reduced anger, anxiety and depression states. This was associated with an effect on reactivity with a reduction of reaction time in the Go/No-Go and Sustained Attention tests. The latency of EMG activation was concomitantly reduced in the same tests plus Choice. An EEG frequency shift towards the theta and alpha band were recorded in all the tests after Omega-3. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 supplementation is associated with an improvement of attentional and physiological functions, particularly those involving complex cortical processing. These findings are discussed in terms of the influence of Omega-3 on the central nervous system.

Blood profiles, body fat and mood state in healthy subjects on different diets supplemented with Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

BACKGROUND: Diets and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been considered as important factors to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, but there are few details on the effects on healthy subjects. The aim of the present study was to examine the variation of several physiological parameters in healthy subjects on different diets supplemented with Omega-3 fatty acids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was carried out on 33 subjects divided into four groups according to a double-blind cross-over design with a 1 : 1 ratio for Omega-3 (vs. placebo) and open-label parallel-groups with a 1 : 1 ratio for the Zone diet (vs. the diet suggested by the Italian National Research Institute for Nutrition and Foods). Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the experiment and after 35 (cross-over) and 70 days. The Profile of Mood States test (POMS) was also performed. RESULTS: The arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio (AA/EPA) was strongly reduced by Omega-3 with a supplementary effect of the diet and in particular the Zone diet. The AA/EPA reduction was correlated with a concomitant decrease of insulin and homocysteine levels. The Zone diet reduced skinfold thickness and body fat percentage and also showed antioxidant effects. The mood state changed after Omega-3 supplementation, with an increased POMS index. This was related to a concomitant reduction of AA/EPA and was particularly evident in the Zone diet. CONCLUSION: AA/EPA and mood state are differently influenced by diet and Omega-3, body fat is particularly reduced by Zone diet, while blood parameters such as triglycerides/HDL ratio, insulin and homocysteine are related to AA/EPA variations. These findings are discussed in terms of differences in the composition of the diets and the influences of Omega-3 on physiological functions.

Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 3. An attempt to define conditions for optimal induction of cytokines.

Ozonization of blood, normally carried out with citrated blood, may be fine for the autohemotherapy of ischemic diseases but it may be at a loss when employed in viral diseases or in immunodeficiencies. We have shown that heparin, used as an anticoagulant, with the addition of 5 mM CaCl2 favors production of cytokines by leukocytes with only a modest increase in hemolysis. High plasmatic levels of glucose, glutathione, and ascorbic acid decrease cytokine's yield because these compounds act as antioxidants and quench the inducing activity of ozone. Autohemotherapy with heparinized and Ca(2+)-supplemented blood has not revealed any side effects in volunteers.

Presence of interferon-gamma and interleukin-6 in colostrum of normal women.

Colostrum and blood samples were obtained on postpartum day 2 and 3 from 17 lactating, healthy women. After delipidation and molecular sieving fractionation of colostrum, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) could be readily measured by using a sensitive immunoassay. Antiviral activity could be also measured in some colostrum samples suggesting that interferon was biologically active. On the contrary, corresponding plasma samples showed negligible activity. These results expand previous data showing the presence of IL-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), and IL-6 in normal colostrum and are in line with the concept of a basal cytokine production in physiological conditions. All of these cytokines probably act on the oropharyngeal and gut-associated lymphoid tissue of the newborn and favor the development and maturation of the immune system.

Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 5. Evaluation of immunological parameters and tolerability in normal volunteers receiving ambulatory autohaemotherapy.

Autohaemotherapy, after a bland treatment ex vivo of blood with ozone, is a fairly unknown medical procedure claimed to have therapeutic value in viral diseases and neoplasms. Having already shown that ozone acts as a mild inducer of cytokines, we have undertaken an investigation in normal rabbits and in normal volunteers aiming to evaluate eventual changes of some cytokine levels in plasma as well as of immunological parameters such as the Mx protein, neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin and of some acute-phase proteins after single or repeated autohaemotherapy. We have also evaluated the potential development of of side-effects. This study is the first one to show that autohaemotherapy can activate an immunological marker in normal subjects without procuring any toxic effects.

What is the role of cytokines in human colostrum?

No one has ever doubted that maternal milk, in comparison to formula milk, has a far superior nutritional value. Colostrum has a well acknowledge crucial value for the survival of the animal species that cannot receive immunoglobulins through the placenta. Until recently the presence of cytokines in colostrum was unsuspected but it has been now clarified that normally there are at least four cytokines, namely interleukin 1 and 6, tumor necrosis factor and interferon gamma, that may exert an important immunostimulatory role particularly on the oropharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue. As a corollary, physiological concentration of cytokines administered per os may exert a useful adjuvant activity in aged or immunodeficient people.