Associations of fatty acids composition and estimated desaturase activities in erythrocyte phospholipids with biochemical and clinical indicators of cardiometabolic risk in non-diabetic Serbian women: the role of level of adiposity.

Introduction: Fatty acids (FAs) composition and desaturase activities can be altered in different metabolic conditions, but the adiposity-independent associations with clinical and biochemical indicators of cardiometabolic risk are still unclear. This study aimed to analyze the associations of FAs composition and estimated desaturase activities with anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical cardiometabolic risk indicators in non-diabetic Serbian women, and to investigate if these associations were independent of the level of adiposity and other confounders. Methods: In 76 non-diabetic, otherwise healthy Serbian women, aged 24-68 years, with or without metabolic syndrome or obesity (BMI=23.6±5.6 kg/m2), FA composition in erythrocyte phospholipids was measured by gas-liquid chromatography. Desaturase activities were estimated from product/precursor FAs ratios (D9D:16:1n-7/16:0; D6D:20:3n-6/18:2n-6; D5D:20:4n-6/20:3n-6). Correlations were made with anthropometric, biochemical (serum glucose, triacylglycerols, LDL-C, HDL-C, ALT, AST, and their ratios) and clinical (blood pressure) indicators of cardiometabolic risk. Linear regression models were performed to test the independence of these associations. Results: Estimated desaturase activities and certain FAs were associated with anthropometric, clinical and biochemical indicators of cardiometabolic risk: D9D, D6D, 16:1n-7 and 20:3n-6 were directly associated, while D5D and 18:0 were inversely associated. However, the associations with clinical and biochemical indicators were not independent of the associations with the level of adiposity, since they were lost after controlling for anthropometric indices. After controlling for multiple confounders (age, postmenopausal status, education, smoking, physical activity, dietary macronutrient intakes, use of supplements, alcohol consumption), the level of adiposity was the most significant predictor of desaturase activities and aforementioned FAs levels, and mediated their association with biochemical/clinical indicators. Vice versa, desaturase activities predicted the level of adiposity, but not other components of cardiometabolic risk (if the level of adiposity was accounted). While the associations of anthropometric indices with 16:1n-7, 20:3n-6, 18:0 and D9D and D6D activities were linear, the associations with D5D activity were the inverse U-shaped. The only adiposity-independent association of FAs profiles with the indicators of cardiometabolic risk was a positive association of 20:5n-3 with ALT/AST ratio, which requires further exploration. Discussion: Additional studies are needed to explore the mechanisms of the observed associations.

Walnut supplementation after fructose-rich diet is associated with a beneficial fatty acid ratio and increased ACE2 expression in the rat heart.

Increased fructose consumption has been linked with chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and NF-κB have been detected in MetS. Walnuts are a rich source of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) that were suggested to exert anti-inflammatory effects related to cardio-metabolic health. We hypothesized that walnut supplementation has the capacity to revert unfavorable fructose-rich diet (FRD)-induced activation of cardiac RAS and NF-κB in male rats. Due to the lack of similar studies, we investigated the effects of walnut supplementation (6 weeks) on the expression of four RAS molecules (ACE, ACE2, AT1R, and AT2R) and NF-κB in rat heart after FRD (10% w/v, 9 weeks). In addition, we followed the changes in the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in the total pool of heart lipids after both treatments to elucidate the walnut effects on fatty acids in the heart. 36 animals (9 per group) participated in the experiment. FRD significantly increased the ACE protein level in the heart (p < 0.001). Walnut supplementation significantly increased the ACE2 protein level in the heart of FRD (p < 0.001). In addition, walnut supplementation showed a significant main effect on the arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio (p = 0.004). Walnut supplementation significantly reduced this ratio, in comparison with both, the control group (C vs. FW, p < 0.05) and the FRD group (F vs. FW, p < 0.05). However, walnut treatment failed to revert the significant effect of fructose (p < 0.001) on the elevation of NF-κB protein level. Our results suggest a beneficial effect of walnut supplementation on ACE2 protein level and n-6/n-3 PUFA level in the heart of the animal model of MetS. Such results highlight the approach of omega-3-rich walnut supplementation in the stimulation of endogenous production of favorable molecules in the heart which could be an affordable nutritional treatment formaintenance of cardio-metabolic health.

The Effect of Fish Oil-Based Foods on Lipid and Oxidative Status Parameters in Police Dogs.

The synthesis, degradation, and reconstruction of the cell membrane as a metabolic pathway of phospholipids is a constant and dynamic process. Fatty acids as bioactive lipid components of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids as structural lipids have biological roles in the integrity of cell membranes. Fatty acids, depending on the chain length, the degree of saturation, and the synthesis pathways, can alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress caused by excessive exercise. Considering that changing food intake or diet can influence fatty acid phospholipid metabolism, our study aimed to determine the potential benefits of fish-based diets in working (police) dogs undergoing intensive training concerning bioactive lipids such as fatty acids, phospholipids of plasma, and erythrocytes. Fatty acid esters' composition of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids as a bioactive lipids, in addition to markers of oxidative stress and metabolic parameters, were analysed by GC chromatography. The food was well tolerated by all dogs, and the compliance to the diet was high throughout the study. After the treatment with fish-based food, blood glucose, total, and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly reduced, indicating positive biochemical profiles of dogs. Correlations of fatty acid phospholipid compositions between plasma and erythrocytes have shown that both plasma and erythrocytes could represent markers of omega-3 eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid intake levels in dogs. Morover, fish-based food supplementation caused a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation markers. The enrichment of dogs' diets with marine fish could improve oxidative status and improve roles and status of bioactive lipids, such as membrane phospholipids and fatty acids, as its components in plasma and erythrocytes in police dogs exposed to intensive exercise.

Short-Term Consumption of Pomegranate Juice Alleviates Some Metabolic Disturbances in Overweight Patients with Dyslipidemia.

Pomegranate juice (PJ) has potential positive effects in patients with metabolic disturbances due to a high content of polyphenols. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of a 2-week consumption of dietary doses of PJ on blood pressure, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress markers in overweight patients with dyslipidemia. Twenty-four patients, 8 males and 16 females, 40-60 years of age, with established overweight and dyslipidemia were randomly assigned into intervention group, who consumed 300 mL of PJ daily for 2 weeks, or control group. After 2 weeks of juice intake, intervention group had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aminotransferase, and activity of glutathione peroxidase. Furthermore, patients who consumed PJ had reduced percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) in plasma phospholipids and increased estimated activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase. In erythrocytes, we found a significant increase in the levels of dihomo-γ- linolenic acid (20:3n-6, DGLA) and DHA, as well as in estimated activity of Δ6 desaturase, and a decrease in estimated activity of Δ5 desaturase. These results show that even a short-term consumption of dietary doses of PJ exerts beneficial effects and affects lipid metabolism in overweight patients with dyslipidemia.

Vitamin D and cardio-metabolic biomarkers: small-scale comparative study between Libyan migrants and resident women in Serbia.

Libyan women are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, mostly due to their lifestyle and low exposure to sun. In the last decades, Libyan residents have been forced to seek refuge in countries such as Serbia, a country with high incidence of cardio-metabolic diseases. Serbian residents tend to be deficient in vitamin D, mostly due to the lack of vitamin D fortification policy. The aim of this study was to evaluate vitamin D status in Libyan adult women migrating to Serbia, with the assessment of cardio-metabolic and nutritional biomarkers, including erythrocytes fatty acid composition, magnesium concentration, and dietary intake. The same markers were measured in Serbian women, and comparisons between the groups were made. Despite low vitamin D dietary intake in both study groups, we observed lower plasma vitamin D status in Libyan women. This was accompanied by a significantly lower concentration of magnesium in Libyan women. Libyan women had significantly higher omega-3 index and lower n-6/n-3 ratio in erythrocytes' phospholipids. We observed significant negative correlation between vitamin D and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations in both study groups. Despite lower vitamin D status in the Libyan group, erythrocyte fatty acid composition, along with blood lipids' concentrations, indicated a lower cardiovascular risk. Based on our results, the discrepancy in the vitamin D status could not be ascribed to the participants' dietary intake of the micronutrient, rather is potentially associated with ethnic-specific cardio-metabolic profile, which should be confirmed in larger cohorts.

Chokeberry Juice Containing Polyphenols Does Not Affect Cholesterol or Blood Pressure but Modifies the Composition of Plasma Phospholipids Fatty Acids in Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk.

Chokeberry polyphenols have been suggested to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure and thus protect against cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the evidence in humans is limited and inconsistent. This randomized double-blinded three-parallel groups trial investigated the changes in various anthropometric and clinical biomarkers, and in plasma phospholipids fatty acids (PPFA) in volunteers at cardiovascular risk after a four-week intervention with 100 mL/day of (1) chokeberry juice with a high-dose of polyphenols (1177.11 mg gallic acid equivalents, GAE); (2) chokeberry juice with a low-dose of polyphenols (294.28 mg GAE) and; (3) a nutritionally matched polyphenol-free placebo drink. Our results indicate that the intake of chokeberry juice containing either the low or the high dose of polyphenols cannot be linked with a reduction in total- and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)cholesterol or in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in comparison with the consumption of the placebo drink. However, we found evidence of moderate changes in the PPFA, i.e., increased saturated fatty acids (SFA), mostly palmitic acid, and reduced n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), principally linoleic acid (LA) with the intake of chokeberry against the placebo. These effects may be associated with the polyphenols but we could not differentiate a clear dose-response effect. Further research is still needed to elucidate the contribution of the polyphenolic fraction to the potential cardiovascular effects of the chokeberry and to build up the evidence of its potential benefit via the modulation of PPFA composition.

Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Plasma Adiponectin Levels and Some Metabolic Risk Factors in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived plasma protein with insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory properties and is suggested to be a biomarker of metabolic disturbances. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on plasma adiponectin and some metabolic risk factors in patients with schizophrenia. The plasma adipokine levels (adiponectin and leptin), routine biochemical and anthropometric parameters, markers of oxidative stress, and the serum phospholipid fatty acid profile in eighteen schizophrenic patients at baseline, in the middle, and at the end of a 3-month long supplementation period with ALA (500 mg daily) were determined. A significant increase in the plasma adiponectin concentrations, as well as a decrease in fasting glucose and aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST), was found. Baseline AST activity was independently correlated with the adiponectin concentrations. Our data show that ALA can improve plasma adiponectin levels and may play a potential role in the treatment of metabolic risk factor in patients with schizophrenia. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary investigations.

Effects of glucomannan-enriched, aronia juice-based supplement on cellular antioxidant enzymes and membrane lipid status in subjects with abdominal obesity.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a 4-week-long consumption of glucomannan-enriched, aronia juice-based supplement on anthropometric parameters, membrane fatty acid profile, and status of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes obtained from postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity. Twenty women aged 45-65 with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 36.1 ± 4.4 kg/m(2) and waist circumference of 104.8 ± 10.1 cm were enrolled. Participants were instructed to consume 100 mL of supplement per day as part of their regular diet. A significant increase in the content of n-3 (P < 0.05) polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipids was observed, with a marked increase in the level of docosahexaenoic fatty acid (P < 0.05). Accordingly, a decrease in the n-6 and n-3 fatty acids ratio was observed (P < 0.05). The observed effects were accompanied with an increase in glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05). Values for BMI (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.001), and systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) were significantly lower after the intervention. The obtained results indicate a positive impact of tested supplement on cellular oxidative damage, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices of obesity.