The Nutrients and Volatile Compounds in Stropharia rugoso-annulata by Three Drying Treatments

This study aimed to examine the differences in the nutrients and volatile compounds of Stropharia rugoso-annulata after undergoing three different drying treatments. The fresh mushrooms were dried using hot air drying (HAD), vacuum freeze drying (VFD), and natural air drying (NAD), respectively. After that, the nutrients, volatile components, and sensory evaluation of the treated mushrooms were comparably analyzed. Nutrients analysis included proximate compositions, free amino acids, fatty acids, mineral elements, bioactive compositions, and antioxidant activity. Volatile components were identified by headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA). Finally, sensory evaluation was conducted by ten volunteers for five sensory properties. The results showed that the HAD group had the highest vitamin D₂ content (4.00 μg/g) and antioxidant activity. Compared with other treatments, the VFD group had higher overall nutrient contents, as well as being more preferred by consumers. Additionally, there were 79 volatile compounds identified by HS-SPME-GC-MS, while the NAD group showed the highest contents of volatile compounds (1931.75 μg/g) and volatile flavor compounds (1307.21 μg/g). PCA analysis suggested the volatile flavor compositions were different among the three groups. In summary, it is recommended that one uses VFD for obtaining higher overall nutritional values, while NAD treatment increased the production of volatile flavor components of the mushroom.

Foetal hyperinsulinaemia and increased fat mass correlate negatively with circulating fatty acid concentrations in neonates of gestational diabetic mothers with dietary-controlled glycaemia

BACKGROUD

Higher accretion of prenatal fat is associated with a higher proportion of obesity in children. However, most of the data on regulatory factors involved in fetal adipogenesis come from animal studies; in humans there is no evidence on how fetal insulin affects fatty acid concentrations and fetal adiposity.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluate the relationship between fetal adipose tissue accretion with insulin and fetal consumption of circulating fatty acid (FA).

METHODS

In fasting maternal blood at term and cord samples, from 41 gestational diabetes mellitus women (GDM) and 68 non-diabetic controls, serum compounds were determined. Individual FA were analyzed and expressed as concentrations of FA (mmol/L).

RESULTS

Both groups had similar maternal serum glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol (TAG), non-esterified FA (NEFA), glycerol and leptin concentrations, but most individual maternal serum FA were lower in GDM than controls. Neonatal fat mass (FM) was higher in the GDM group even though neonatal birth weights were similar. In GDM cord serum glucose, insulin, NEFA and leptin were higher than controls, but glycerol and all individual FA were lower. In GDM neonates only, a negative correlation was found between each FA and FM, and there was a strong negative correlation between the concentrations of umbilical blood insulin and five major FA.

CONCLUSION

Our results show for the first time that hyperinsulinemia in fetuses of GDM women increases FA utilization, which may contribute to to their increased adiposity.

Maternal C-Peptide and Insulin Sensitivity, but Not BMI, Associate with Fatty Acids in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

Maternal obesity in pregnancy is a pro-inflammatory condition exposing the fetus to an adverse environment. Here, we tested associations of maternal obesity (primary exposures: BMI, leptin) and metabolic parameters (secondary exposures: glucose, C-peptide, and insulin sensitivity) with total serum concentrations of fatty acids in the first trimester of human pregnancy. This cross-sectional study included 123 non-smoking women with singleton pregnancy. In maternal serum, cotinine, leptin, and C-peptide (ELISA), glucose (hexokinase-based test) and fatty acids (gas chromatography) were quantified, and the insulin sensitivity index (ISHOMA) was calculated. Concentrations of fatty acid classes and total fatty acids did not differ between BMI or leptin categories. However, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were decreased in the category with the highest C-peptide concentration (n-3 PUFA: CI -35.82--6.28, p < 0.006) and in the lowest ISHOMA category (n-3 PUFA: CI -36.48--5.61, p < 0.008). In a subcohort, in which fetal sex was determined (RT-qPCR of placental tissue), C-peptide was significantly associated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in mothers bearing a female (n = 46), but not male (n = 37) fetus. In conclusion, pregnant women with high fasting C-peptide and low ISHOMA had decreased n-3 PUFA, and DHA was lower with higher C-peptide only in mothers bearing a female fetus.

Analytical methods in fatty acid analysis for microbial applications: the recent trends

Fatty acids are among the most important components of many biological systems and have been highlighted in many research fields in recent decades. In the food industry, it is important to check the amount and types of fatty acids in edible oils, beverages and other foods products, and checking the fatty acids parameters are among the quality control parameters for those products. In medical applications, investigation of fatty acids in biological samples and comparing imbalances in them can help to diagnose some diseases. On the other hand, the development of cell factories for the production of biofuels and other valuable chemicals requires the accurate analysis of fatty acids, which serve as precursors in development of those products. As a result, given all these different applications of fatty acids, rapid and accurate methods for characterization and quantification of fatty acids are essential. In recent years, various methods for the analysis of fatty acids have been proposed, which according to the specific purpose of the analysis, some of them can be used with consideration of speed, accuracy and cost. In this article, the available methods for the analysis of fatty acids are reviewed with a special emphasis on the analysis of microbial samples to pave the way for more widespread metabolic engineering research.

Reduction of litter size during lactation in rats greatly influences fatty acid profiles in dams

This study aimed to determine in lactating rats how fatty acid profiles are affected by litter size. On day 2 after parturition, litters of lactating rats were adjusted to a normal litter size of 9 pups/dam (NL) or to a small litter of 4 pups/dam (SL), and dams were studied at day 21 of lactation. Plasma glucose, insulin, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations were higher in SL than in NL dams, whereas the concentrations of most other fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAG), and non-esterified fatty acids were lower in the SL dams. In the liver, the concentration of TAG was lower in SL than in NL dams as was the concentration of most fatty acids, with the exception of stearic acid (STA), arachidonic acid (ARA), and DHA concentrations that were higher in SL. Both plasma and liver Δ⁹ desaturase indices were lower in SL than in NL dams, whereas both Δ⁵ and Δ⁶ desaturase indices were higher in SL dams. In the liver, the expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase was lower in SL than in NL dams, and among the different adipose tissue depots, only mesenteric adipose tissue showed a higher concentration of most fatty acids in SL than in NL dams. It is proposed that reduction of litter size during lactation decreases liver lipogenesis de novo, although the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from their corresponding precursors increases, and lipolytic activity in mesenteric adipose tissue decreases probably as result of increased insulin responsiveness.

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes and with well controlled glucose levels have decreased concentrations of individual fatty acids in maternal and cord serum

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Both arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA,22:6 n-3), long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), are involved in fetal development and, based on their percentage compositions, appear to be specifically accumulated in fetal circulation in a proposed phenomenon known as biomagnification. Discrepancies exist in the literature concerning the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on circulating fatty acids. Our objective was to analyse individual fatty acid concentrations in a large cohort of maternal and cord paired serum samples from pregnant women with and without GDM.

METHODS

Overnight fasted maternal and cord blood paired samples from 84 women with GDM and well controlled blood glucose levels and 90 healthy pregnant women (controls) were drawn at term. Individual fatty acids within total serum lipids were analysed by gas chromatography and expressed both as concentrations of fatty acid (mmol/l) and as a percentage of total fatty acids.

RESULTS

In the serum of overnight fasted pregnant women with GDM, the concentrations of most fatty acids were lower than in control women, except for AA and DHA, which remained the same. The concentrations of most fatty acids in cord serum were also lower in the GDM group than in the control group, except for α-linolenic acid (ALA,18:3 n-3), which was higher in the GDM group. In both groups, the concentrations of all fatty acids were lower in cord serum than in maternal serum. In GDM participants only, a positive and significant correlation between cord and maternal serum concentration of AA and DHA was observed.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The expression of fatty acids in molar concentrations reveals that GDM decreases the concentration of most fatty acids in both maternal and cord serum. There is a high fetal dependence on maternal AA and DHA, but our findings do not support the existence of a fetal biomagnification of those two LCPUFA.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based analytical strategies for fatty acid analysis in biological samples

Fatty acids play critical roles in biological systems. Imbalances in fatty acids are related to a variety of diseases, which makes the measurement of fatty acids in biological samples important. Many analytical strategies have been developed to investigate fatty acids in various biological samples. Due to the structural diversity of fatty acids, many factors need to be considered when developing analytical methods including extraction methods, derivatization methods, column selections, and internal standard selections. This review focused on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based methods. We reviewed several commonly used fatty acid extraction approaches, including liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase microextraction. Moreover, both acid and base derivatization methods and other specially designed methods were comprehensively reviewed, and their strengths and limitations were discussed. Having good separation efficiency is essential to building an accurate and reliable GC-MS platform for fatty acid analysis. We reviewed the separation performance of different columns and discussed the application of multidimensional GC for improving separations. The selection of internal standards was also discussed. In the final section, we introduced several biomedical studies that measured fatty acid levels in different sample matrices and provided hints on the relationships between fatty acid imbalances and diseases.

High-fat diet in pregnant rats and adverse fetal outcome

Background: Although pregestational obesity has been associated with increased risk of adverse fetal outcome, the mechanisms behind are not known. We aimed to investigate the influence of the maternal metabolic state on fetal outcome in rats exposed to either a high-fat diet (HFD) or a control diet (CD). We also investigated the impact of serum collected from HFD/CD pregnant rats on CD embryonic development in whole-embryo cultures. Material and methods: On gestational day 0, 9, 10, or 20 maternal plasma/serum samples were collected as pregnancies were terminated for the estimations of maternal metabolic state and embryo-fetal development. We measured embryonic gene expression of ROS scavenger enzymes as well as genes involved in inflammation in maternal adipose tissue. Results: In HFD maternal plasma/serum, concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, branched-chain amino acids, and leptin were increased, whereas those of triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids were decreased. Gene expression of CuZnSOD, IL-6, IL-10, and resistin was increased in HFD maternal adipose tissue, whereas that of CuZnSOD and MnSOD was decreased in HFD-exposed embryos. HFD caused retention of most fatty acids in the maternal liver as well. Conclusion: HFD alters the maternal metabolic state, increases fetal resorptions in vivo, and increases the rate of fetal/embryonic malformations both in vivo and in vitro. These findings suggest that metabolic disturbances in HFD pregnant rats have profound adverse developmental effects in the offspring.

Development of an autotrophic fermentation technique for the production of fatty acids using an engineered Ralstonia eutropha cell factory

Massive emission of CO₂ into atmosphere from consumption of carbon deposit is causing climate change. Researchers have applied metabolic engineering and synthetic biology techniques for improving CO₂ fixation efficiency in many species. One solution might be the utilization of autotrophic bacteria, which have great potential to be engineered into microbial cell factories for CO₂ fixation and the production of chemicals, independent of fossil resources. In this work, several pathways of Ralstonia eutropha H16 were modulated by manipulation of heterologous and endogenous genes related to fatty acid synthesis. The resulting strain B2(pCT, pFP) was able to produce 124.48 mg/g (cell dry weight) free fatty acids with fructose as carbon source, a fourfold increase over the parent strain H16. To develop a truly autotrophic fermentation technique with H₂, CO₂ and O₂ as substrates, we assembled a relatively safe, continuous, lab-scale gas fermentation system using micro-fermentation tanks, H₂ supplied by a hydrogen generator, and keeping the H₂ to O₂ ratio at 7:1. The system was equipped with a H₂ gas alarm, rid of heat sources and placed into a fume hood to further improve the safety. With this system, the best strain B2(pCT, pFP) produced 60.64 mg free fatty acids per g biomass within 48 h, growing in minimal medium supplemented with 9 × 10³ mL/L/h hydrogen gas. Thus, an autotrophic fermentation technique to produce fatty acids was successfully established, which might inspire further research on autotrophic gas fermentation with a safe, lab-scale setup, and provides an alternative solution for environmental and energy problems.

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is related to gestational weight gain in pregnant women with obesity

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a circulating protein involved in the regulation of adipose tissue metabolism. However, its role in obesity and pregnancy is unknown. To evaluate the relationship between gestational weight gain (GWG) and circulating concentrations of ANGPTL4 in pregnant women with overweight and obesity, weight gain and fasting maternal blood samples of thirty-one pregnant women was drawn at 15, 24 and 32 weeks of gestation. ANGPTL4 concentrations continuously rose throughout gestation, whereas VEGF and leptin did not show the same trend. NEFA and glycerol concentrations remained stable during pregnancy. In contrast, total concentrations of saturated, monounsaturated and n-6 fatty acids, but not n-3 fatty acids, increased with pregnancy. In multiple regression analysis, the increase in plasma ANGPTL4 and decrease in linoleic acid concentrations were the most significant predictors of GWG, although only ANGPTL4 was significantly associated with the weight gain from early pregnancy (area under the ROC curve was 0.80 p < 0.01(95% CI 0.61-0.99)). In conclusion, in pregnant women with overweight and obesity, an increase in plasma ANGPTL4 concentrations throughout pregnancy is positively associated with GWG and could be used as an early marker of increased susceptibility to excess gestational weight gain.

Maternal adipose tissue becomes a source of fatty acids for the fetus in fasted pregnant rats given diets with different fatty acid compositions

PURPOSE

The utilization of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) by the fetus may exceed its capacity to synthesize them from essential fatty acids, so they have to come from the mother. Since adipose tissue lipolytic activity is greatly accelerated under fasting conditions during late pregnancy, the aim was to determine how 24 h fasting in late pregnant rats given diets with different fatty acid compositions affects maternal and fetal tissue fatty acid profiles.

METHODS

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given isoenergetic diets containing 10% palm-, sunflower-, olive- or fish-oil. Half the rats were fasted from day 19 of pregnancy and all were studied on day 20. Triacylglycerols (TAG), glycerol and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were analyzed by enzymatic methods and fatty acid profiles were analyzed by gas chromatography.

RESULTS

Fasting caused increments in maternal plasma NEFA, glycerol and TAG, indicating increased adipose tissue lipolytic activity. Maternal adipose fatty acid profiles paralleled the respective diets and, with the exception of animals on the olive oil diet, maternal fasting increased the plasma concentration of most fatty acids. This maintains the availability of LCPUFA to the fetus during brain development.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show the major role played by maternal adipose tissue in the storage of dietary fatty acids during pregnancy, thus ensuring adequate availability of LCPUFA to the fetus during late pregnancy, even when food supply is restricted.

Fate of orally administered radioactive fatty acids in the late-pregnant rat

To investigate the biodisponibility of placental transfer of fatty acids, rats pregnant for 20 days were given tracer amounts of [(14)C]palmitic (PA), oleic (OA), linoleic (LA), α-linolenic (LNA), or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) orally and euthanized at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 8.0 h thereafter. Maternal plasma radioactivity in lipids initially increased only to decline at later times. Most of the label appeared first as triacylglycerols (TAG); later, the proportion in phospholipids (PhL) increased. The percentage of label in placental lipids was also always highest shortly after administration and declined later; again, PhL increased with time. Fetal plasma radioactivity increased with time, with its highest value at 8.0 h after DHA or LNA administration. DHA initially appeared primarily in the nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and PA, OA, LA, and LNA as TAG followed by NEFA; in all cases, there was an increase in PhL at later times. Measurement of fatty acid concentrations allowed calculation of specific (radio)activities, and the ratio (fetal/maternal) of these in the plasmas gave an index of placental transfer activity, which was LNA > LA > DHA = OA > PA. It is proposed that a considerable proportion of most fatty acids transferred through the placenta are released into the fetal circulation in the form of TAG.

High Fat Diet Administration during Specific Periods of Pregnancy Alters Maternal Fatty Acid Profiles in the Near-Term Rat

Excessive fat intake is a global health concern as women of childbearing age increasingly ingest high fat diets (HFDs). We therefore determined the maternal fatty acid (FA) profiles in metabolic organs after HFD administration during specific periods of gestation. Rats were fed a HFD for the first (HF1), second (HF2), or third (HF3) week, or for all three weeks (HFG) of gestation. Total maternal plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were monitored throughout pregnancy. At day 20 of gestation, maternal plasma, liver, adipose tissue, and placenta FA profiles were determined. In HF3 mothers, plasma myristic and stearic acid concentrations were elevated, whereas docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was reduced in both HF3 and HFG mothers. In HF3 and HFG mothers, hepatic stearic and oleic acid proportions were elevated; conversely, DHA and linoleic acid (LA) proportions were reduced. In adipose tissue, myristic acid was elevated, whereas DHA and LA proportions were reduced in all mothers. Further, adipose tissue stearic acid proportions were elevated in HF2, HF3, and HFG mothers; with oleic acid increased in HF1 and HFG mothers. In HF3 and HFG mothers, placental neutral myristic acid proportions were elevated, whereas DHA was reduced. Further, placental phospholipid DHA proportions were reduced in HF3 and HFG mothers. Maintenance on a diet, high in saturated fat, but low in DHA and LA proportions, during late or throughout gestation, perpetuated reduced DHA across metabolic organs that adapt during pregnancy. Therefore a diet, with normal DHA proportions during gestation, may be important for balancing maternal FA status.

Fish oil diet in pregnancy and lactation reduces pup weight and modifies newborn hepatic metabolic adaptations in rats

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of a diet containing fish oil (FD) during pregnancy and lactation in rats on the metabolic adaptations made by the offspring during early extrauterine life and to compare it to an olive oil diet (OD).

METHODS

Rats were mated and randomly allocated to OD or FD containing 10 % of the corresponding oil. During lactation, litters were adjusted to eight pups per dam. Fetuses of 20 days and pups of 0, 1, 10, 20 and 30 days of age were studied.

RESULTS

Body weight and length were lower in pups of the FD group from birth. The diet, milk, pups' plasma and liver of FD group had higher proportions of n-3 LCPUFA, but the content of arachidonic acid (ARA) was lower. Plasma glucose was higher, but unesterified fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAG), 3-hydroxybutyrate and liver TAG in 1-day-old pups were lower in the FD group, and differences in some of these variables were also found in pups up to 30 days old. Liver lipoprotein lipase activity and mRNA expression, and the expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase I, acyl-CoA oxidase and 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl-CoA synthase increased more at birth in pups of the FD group, but the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c and Δ6-desaturase mRNA was lower in the FD group.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal intake of high n-3 LCPUFA retards postnatal development, which could be the result of impaired ARA synthesis, and affects hepatic metabolic adaptations to extrauterine life.

High Fat Diet Exposure during Fetal Life Enhances Plasma and Hepatic Omega-6 Fatty Acid Profiles in Fetal Wistar Rats

Pregnant rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for the first (HF1), second (HF2), third (HF3) or all three weeks (HFG) of gestation. Maintenance on a HFD during specific periods of gestation was hypothesized to alter fetal glycemia, insulinemia, induce insulin resistance; and alter fetal plasma and hepatic fatty acid (FA) profiles. At day 20 of gestation, fetal plasma and hepatic FA profiles were determined by gas chromatography; body weight, fasting glycemia, insulinemia and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-insulin resistance) were also determined. HF3 fetuses were heaviest concomitant with elevated glycemia and insulin resistance (p < 0.05). HFG fetuses had elevated plasma linoleic (18:2 n-6) and arachidonic (20:4 n-6) acid proportions (p < 0.05). In the liver, HF3 fetuses displayed elevated linoleic, eicosatrienoic (20:3 n-6) and arachidonic acid proportions (p < 0.05). HFG fetuses had reduced hepatic docosatrienoic acid (22:5 n-3) proportions (p < 0.05). High fat maintenance during the final week of fetal life enhances hepatic omega-6 FA profiles in fetuses concomitant with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance thereby presenting a metabolically compromised phenotype.

Influence of cafeteria diet and fish oil in pregnancy and lactation on pups' body weight and fatty acid profiles in rats

PURPOSE

The aim was to determine the effects of cafeteria diet (CD) and fish oil supplements given to pregnant and lactating rats on the birth weight and fatty acid profiles of their offspring.

METHODS

Female rats were given standard diet (STD) or CD for 22 days before pregnancy. After mating, some animals remained on STD or CD; for some CD rats, the diet was supplemented with 8.78 % fish oil (CD-FO). After 12 days, half the CD-FO group returned to CD (CD-FO12) and the others remained on CD-FO.

RESULTS

At birth, body weights of pups of the three CD groups were lower than STD, maintained until 21 days in the CD-FO group only. At the end of lactation, dams of the CD groups had increased plasma triacylglycerols (TAG), non-esterified fatty acids, and glycerol concentrations, whereas most n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) were decreased, the effect being greatest in the CD-FO group, where most n-3 LCPUFA were increased and indices of Δ(5) and Δ(6) desaturase activities decreased. The 21-day-old pups of the CD group had increased plasma TAG, not present in the CD-FO group, which had increased 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. In both 2- and 21-day-old CD pups, plasma concentrations of ARA were lower than STD, and even lower in the two CD-FO groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of CD and CD-FO decreasing pups body weight could be related to decreased concentrations of ARA, caused by the inhibition of the Δ(5) and Δ(6) desaturases in the pathway of n-6 LCPUFA biosynthesis.

Evaluation of four derivatization methods for the analysis of fatty acids from green leafy vegetables by gas chromatography

Green leafy vegetables are valuable secondary sources of nutrients, including lipids, commonly consumed in developing countries. However, method development for the analysis of fatty acids is usually focused on the animal lipid samples, rarely including natural plant extracts. Hence, the usefulness of four derivatization methods for the gas chromatographic analysis of plant lipids was studied. Methylation using 10% solution of BF3 in methanol and 2.0M solution of (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane (TMSD) in hexane, trimethylsilylation and tert-butyldimethylsilylation were compared using lipid standards and extracts from the leaves of Solanum macrocarpon and S. melongena after saponification. While silylation was found effective and precise using lipid standards, it initially did not perform well in the analysis of plant lipids due to the presence of transesterification products in samples. Optimization of the hydrolysis conditions resulted in an effective analysis of these derivatives, but poor separation of FA(18:0) from unsaturated FA(18:X) compounds and the presence of larger amounts of interferences disqualified the use silylation for the analysis of plant fatty acids in applied analytical conditions. Methylation using TMSD gave more precise quantitative results when compared to BF3/MeOH method. Also, it produced a significantly lower amount of interferences when applied to plant lipid samples. Additionally, the TMSD-based method is simple, safe and less time-consuming when compared to other procedures. Thus, we suggest using TMSD-based methylation as a method of choice in the GC analysis of plant-derived fatty acids.

Determination of the fatty acid profile of neutral lipids, free fatty acids and phospholipids in human plasma

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of the fatty acid composition of lipid classes in human plasma is an important factor in the investigation of human metabolism. Therefore, a method for the analysis of neutral lipid (NL), phospholipid (PL) and free fatty acids (FFA) in human plasma has been developed and validated.

METHODS

Separation of lipid classes was carried out by solid phase extraction of the lipid extract. The fractions were transesterified and the resulting fatty acid methyl esters were determined by GC/FID. For the method to be validated, precision, detection and quantification limits, as well as recovery, were determined for combined lipid extraction, solid phase extraction and GC analysis.

RESULTS

The lipid extraction was miniaturized and simplified by application of an ultrasound ‘Sonotrode’. The resolution of lipid classes was optimized with appropriate standards added to a representative plasma sample. In addition, a rapid derivatization procedure using trimethylsulfoniumhydroxide was established. Low determination limits (1.5, 0.2 and 1.3 μg/g plasma for NL, PL and FFA, respectively) indicate that the method’s sensitivity is sufficient to quantify even minor components. Furthermore, recovery for NL and PL fatty acids was found to range from 80% to 110%. The results were similar for FFA apart from more polar free fatty acids due to their higher solubility in water. Repetitive measurements showed very good precision apart from the long chain PUFA for which the coefficients of variation were significantly higher.

CONCLUSIONS

The present method is applicable to the quantitation of fatty acids in lipid classes of human plasma including several minor components.

Sex-dependent nutritional programming: fish oil intake during early pregnancy in rats reduces age-dependent insulin resistance in male, but not female, offspring

Prenatal and early postnatal nutritional status may predispose offspring to impaired glucose tolerance and changes in insulin sensitivity in adult life. The long-term consequences of changes in maternal dietary fatty acid composition were determined in rats. From day 1 until day 12 of pregnancy, rats were given isocaloric diets containing 9% nonvitamin fat based on soybean, olive, fish (FO), linseed, or palm oil. Thereafter, they were maintained on the standard diet; offspring were studied at different ages. Body weight at 4, 8, and 12 mo and lumbar adipose tissue and liver weights at 12 mo did not differ between females on the different diets, whereas in males the corresponding values were all lower in the offspring from the FO group compared with the other dietary groups. Plasma glucose concentrations (both basal and after an oral glucose load) did not change with sex or dietary group, but plasma insulin concentrations were lower in females than in males and, in males, were lowest in the FO group. Similar relations were found with both the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity index. In conclusion, the intake of more n–3 fatty acids (FO diet) during early pregnancy reduced both fat accretion and age-related decline in insulin sensitivity in male offspring but not in females. It is proposed that the lower adiposity caused by the increased n–3 fatty acids during the intrauterine life was responsible of the lower insulin resistance in male offspring.

Treatment with Azadirachta indica in diabetic pregnant rats: negative effects on maternal outcome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The role of Azadirachta indica (neem) against Chagas disease and its antibiotic and antidiabetic action have been demonstrated in non-pregnant animals. However, the effects of neem on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress during pregnancy remain to be investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Azadirachta indica (neem) on maternal reproductive performance and biochemical parameters in non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced mild diabetic rats (MD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pregnant rats were randomly distributed into six experimental groups: ND=non-treated non-diabetic (n=13); NDOil=non-diabetic treated with 1.2 mL/day neem seed oil (n=12); NDPA=non-diabetic treated with 1.0mg/mL/day azadirachtin (n=12); D=non-treated diabetic (n=13); DOil: diabetic treated with neem seed oil (n=12), and DPA=diabetic treated with azadirachtin, n=13. Treatment with either neem oil (1.2 mL/day) or azadirachtin (1.0mg/mL/day) was orally administered throughout pregnancy. Glucose test tolerance (GTT) was performed at day 17 of pregnancy and used as an inclusion criterion. At term pregnancy, maternal reproductive outcomes, lipid profile and oxidative stress status were assessed.

RESULTS

Treatment with neem oil and azadirachtin during pregnancy (1) had no hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects on non-diabetic and diabetic rats, respectively; (2) affected OGTT glycemic levels in diabetic rats; (3) increased the proportion of fetuses classified as small for pregnancy age (SPA) in all groups; and (4) did not interfere with the lipid profile in non-diabetic dams. Neem oil reduced the rate of total cholesterol and NEFA in diabetic animals. Both neem oil and azadirachtin increased lipoperoxidation, characterized by increased MDA levels in non-diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION

Both neem seed oil and azadirachtin impaired intrauterine development and altered antioxidant/oxidative status during pregnancy.

Dietary lipids during early pregnancy differently influence adipose tissue metabolism and fatty acid composition in pregnant rats with repercussions on pup's development

Pregnant rats received soybean (SO), olive (OO), fish (FO) and linseed (LO) oil diets from conception to d12 of gestation (early diets) and standard diet thereafter. At d12 and d20 the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was evaluated in maternal adipose tissues (ATs). Fatty Acid (FA) profile was determined in maternal lumbar AT (LAT), in milk and in pup's plasma and brain. LPL activity was higher in ATs at d12 than d20, all groups presenting hypertriglyceridemia at d20. At d12, the LO diet resulted higher LPL activity and incorporation of 18:3 n-3 into LAT. FA profile in maternal LAT at d20 and colostrum was similar to early diets, reflected also in FA composition of pup's plasma. In FO, brain phospholipids had higher 22:6 n-3 without affecting arachidonic acid. These results suggest that specifics dietary FA in early pregnancy modulates lipid metabolism and the provision of LC-PUFA in milk and pups brain.

Influence of maternal diet during early pregnancy on the fatty acid profile in the fetus at late pregnancy in rats

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of different dietary fatty acids during the first half of pregnancy on the fatty acid composition of maternal adipose tissue and of maternal and fetal plasma at mid- and late-pregnancy. Pregnant rats received soybean-, olive-, fish-, linseed- or palm-oil diets from conception to day 12 of gestation. Virgin rats receiving the same treatments were studied in parallel. At day 12, some rats were sacrificed and others were returned to the standard diet and studied at day 20. At day 12, the concentrations of most fatty acids in plasma reflected the dietary composition and individual fatty acids in lumbar adipose tissue of pregnant rats correlated with those in the diet. At day 20, the plasma concentration of each fatty acid was higher in pregnant than in both virgin rats and day-12 pregnant rats. The composition in 20-day pregnant (but not in virgin) rats resembled the diet consumed during the first 12 days. Fatty acid concentration in fetal plasma was also influenced by the maternal diet during the first 12 days of pregnancy, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) concentrations correlated with those in the mothers. In conclusion, during the first half of pregnancy maternal adipose tissue stores dietary-derived fatty acids, which are released into blood during late pregnancy enabling LC-PUFA to become available to the fetus.