Bio-synthesized sardine oil concentrate alters the composition of hepatic lipids in rats: A lipidomic approach.

Both preventive and curative therapies have created a considerable demand for n-3 PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) from fish oil, such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, for human use. Bio-synthesized sardine oil (bioSO) concentrate containing an acylglycerols mixture with 50% n-3 PUFAs was obtained by Candida cylindracea lipase hydrolysis and subsequently used for in vivo tests in animals. Wistar rats received, by gavage, a dose of 0.2 g/kg/day of bioSO or unmodified sardine oil (unSO) or saline solution (control) for three consecutive days and the liver tissue was evaluated by a selective and sensitive lipidomic approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MSE) and gas chromatography (GC). In addition, antioxidant parameters, response of oxidative stress marker and estimated fatty acid desaturase indexes were determined. The use of bioSO led to an increase in Cer d18:1/16:0, PE-Cer d14:2/18:0 and highly unsaturated phosphatylcholines (PC 38:4, PC 40:6 and PC 42:8) in the hepatic tissue membranes. There was also an increase in DHA incorporation in animals that received bioSO in comparison with the control animals. No differences in superoxide dismutase and catalase activity levels were observed between the groups, and malondialdehyde levels and delta 5-desaturase activity were higher in animals supplemented with bioSO. These results indicate that bioSO increase the hepatic incorporation of DHA, especially those esterified as PCs, and are probably absorbed and transported more effectively than the unSO. Enzymatically hydrolyzed compounds containing antioxidants may be a viable alternative for obtaining n-3 PUFA-enriched functional lipids.

Assessing the Metabolic Impact of Ground Chia Seed in Overweight and Obese Prepubescent Children: Results of a Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Childhood obesity is a medical condition of major public health concern. Chia seeds are used to treat certain noncommunicable diseases, and they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which contribute to the absorption of vitamins. A randomized double-blind clinical trial of 30 obese children was performed. The sample was composed of prepubertal 5- to 10-year-old children of both sexes with body mass indexes equal to or above the 95th percentile who were recruited through the Pediatric Department of the Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. Blood samples were drawn, the children were weighed and measured, and a 24-h dietary recall was obtained before and after the treatment. Not only were significant differences observed for fibrinogen (P = .011) but a correlation between the changes in markers and the presence of fibers was also observed for two inflammatory parameters: tumor necrosis factor-α (P = .027) and nuclear factor-κß (P = .059). These results indicate that chia seeds may have anti-inflammatory effects related to their fiber content in the context of childhood obesity.

Characterization of the antioxidant activity of aglycone and glycosylated derivatives of hesperetin: an in vitro and in vivo study.

The flavonoids are mainly present in Citrus fruits as their glycosyl derivatives. This study was conducted comparing in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of the aglycone hesperetin and its glycosylated forms (hesperidin and G-hesperidin) and their effects on the plasma lipid profile and the oxidative-antioxidative system (TBARS and antioxidant enzymes) in rats. The concentrations of the major conjugated metabolites in rat plasma after oral administration of these compounds were also determined. Wistar male rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n=6) supplemented for 30 days with 1 mmol/kg body mass of hesperetin, hesperidin or G-hesperidin. Hesperetin was a stronger xanthine oxidase inhibitor (IC50=53 µM and Ki=17.3 µM) than the glycosylate derivatives. Supplementation with the three compounds led to a lower (more favorable) atherogenic index, and an antioxidant preventive effect from the increase of hepatic superoxide dismutase was observed associated to HT supplementation, possibly because of the higher level of hesperetin-glucuronide in rat plasma.