The role of Omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid in pregnancy and early development

Accumulation of docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA) in a novel isolate of the marine ichthyosporean Sphaeroforma arctica

OBJECTIVE

Currently, there is lack of a consistent and highly enriched source for docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA, C22:5), and this work report the isolation of microorganism that naturally produces n-3 DPA.

RESULTS

In this work, we screened microorganisms in our culture collections with the goal to isolate a strain with high levels of n-3 DPA. We isolated a strain of Sphaeroforma arctica that produces up to 11% n-3 DPA in total fatty acid and has a high n-3 DPA to DHA/EPA ratio. The cell growth of the isolated strain was characterized using microscopy imaging and flow cytometer technologies to confirm the coenocytic pattern of cell divisions previously described in S. arctica. Our novel isolate of S. arctica grew more robustly and produced significantly more n-3 DPA compared to previously isolated and described strains indicating the uniqueness of the discovered strain.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this work reports a first isolate n-3 DPA producing microorganism and establishes the foundation for future strain improvement and elucidation of the physiological function of this LC-PUFA for human nutrition and health.

Association of Maternal Erythrocyte PUFA during Pregnancy with Offspring Allergy in the Chinese Population

Findings on prenatal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and offspring allergies have been inconsistent, and the majority of studies have focused on Western populations. This study aimed to investigate the associations between maternal erythrocyte PUFA and offspring allergies in the first 2 years in the Chinese population. We included 573 mother–infant pairs from a birth cohort. Based on the outpatient medical records, we identified the diagnosis and time of offspring allergic disease onset. We measured erythrocyte fatty acids by gas chromatography. Associations were examined using Cox regression. We found that higher maternal total PUFA levels (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.94), especially of arachidonic acid (AA) (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.97) and n-3 PUFA (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.97), were associated with reduced risk of offspring allergies. Similar results were found for eczema. Compared with children without a maternal allergy history, the associations of total PUFA (p = 0.028) and n-6 PUFA (p = 0.013) with offspring allergies were stronger in those with a maternal allergy history. Maternal erythrocyte total PUFA, especially AA, and n-3 PUFA were inversely associated with offspring allergies within 2 years of age. There was a significant interaction between maternal allergy history and maternal PUFA in offspring allergies.

Fatty acid profile characterization in colostrum, transition milk, and mature milk of primi- and multiparous cows during the first week of lactation

The specific fatty acid (FA) profile of colostrum may indicate a biological requirement for neonatal calves. The objective of this study was to characterize the FA profile and yields in colostrum, transition milk, and mature milk in primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) cows. Colostrum was milked from 10 PP and 10 MP Holstein cows fed the same pre- and postpartum rations. Milkings (M) 2 to 5 and 12 were respectively termed transition and mature milk. Overall, short-chain FA (C4:0 and C6:0) were 61 and 50% lower in colostrum than mature milk, respectively. A parity by milking interaction was also present, with higher C4:0 for PP cows at M2 and for MP cows at M12. Additionally, higher concentrations of C6:0 were present for PP cows at M2 through M4 and for MP cows at M12. Palmitic (C16:0) and myristic (C14:0) acids were 38% and 19% higher in colostrum than mature milk, respectively. However, total saturated FA remained relatively stable. Branched-chain FA were 13% lower in colostrum than mature milk and higher in PP than MP cows throughout the milking period. The proportion of trans-monounsaturated FA (MUFA) was 72% higher in PP cows throughout the milking period, as well as 13% lower in colostrum than mature milk. In contrast, cis-MUFA and total MUFA were not affected by milking nor parity. Linoleic acid (LA) was 25% higher in colostrum than transition and mature milks, but α-linolenic acid (ALA) did not differ. Consequently, the ratio of LA to ALA was 29% higher in colostrum than mature milk and 33% higher in MP cows. Linoleic acid was also 15% higher in MP cows, whereas ALA was 15% higher in PP cows. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, cis-9,trans-11) was 2.7-fold higher in PP cows, and no differences between colostrum and mature milk were detected. Overall, polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) from the n-6 and n-3 series were over 40% higher in colostrum compared with transition and mature milk. Milking by parity interactions were present for arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and total n-3 PUFA, translating to higher proportions in PP cows in M1 to M3, whereas proportions remained relatively stable throughout the milking period in MP cows. Despite increasing milk yields throughout the subsequent milkings, higher yields of EPA, ARA, DPA, and DHA were present in colostrum than in mature milk. Greater proportions and yields of n-3 and n-6 FA in colostrum may translate to specific requirements for newborn calves. Differences were also observed between PP and MP cows and may reflect different nutrient requirements and partitioning.

Fatty acid profile characterization in colostrum, transition milk, and mature milk of primi- and multiparous cows during the first week of lactation

The specific fatty acid (FA) profile of colostrum may indicate a biological requirement for neonatal calves. The objective of this study was to characterize the FA profile and yields in colostrum, transition milk, and mature milk in primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) cows. Colostrum was milked from 10 PP and 10 MP Holstein cows fed the same pre- and postpartum rations. Milkings (M) 2 to 5 and 12 were respectively termed transition and mature milk. Overall, short-chain FA (C4:0 and C6:0) were 61 and 50% lower in colostrum than mature milk, respectively. A parity by milking interaction was also present, with higher C4:0 for PP cows at M2 and for MP cows at M12. Additionally, higher concentrations of C6:0 were present for PP cows at M2 through M4 and for MP cows at M12. Palmitic (C16:0) and myristic (C14:0) acids were 16% and 27% higher in colostrum than mature milk, respectively. However, total saturated FA remained relatively stable. Branched-chain FA were 13% lower in colostrum than mature milk and higher in PP than MP cows throughout the milking period. The proportion of trans-monounsaturated FA (MUFA) was 42% higher in PP cows throughout the milking period, as well as 15% lower in colostrum than mature milk. In contrast, cis-MUFA and total MUFA were not affected by milking nor parity. Linoleic acid (LA) was 13% higher in colostrum than transition and mature milks, but α-linolenic acid (ALA) did not differ. Consequently, the ratio of LA to ALA was 23% higher in colostrum than mature milk and 25% higher in MP cows. Linoleic acid was also 13% higher in MP cows, whereas ALA was 15% higher in PP cows. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, cis-9,trans-11) was 63% higher in PP cows, and no differences between colostrum and mature milk were detected. Overall, polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) from the n-6 and n-3 series were over 25% higher in colostrum compared with transition and mature milk. Milking by parity interactions were present for arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and total n-3 PUFA, translating to higher proportions in PP cows in M1 to M3, whereas proportions remained relatively stable throughout the milking period in MP cows. Despite increasing milk yields throughout the subsequent milkings, higher yields of EPA, ARA, DPA, and DHA were present in colostrum than in mature milk. Greater proportions and yields of n-3 and n-6 FA in colostrum may translate to specific requirements for newborn calves. Differences were also observed between PP and MP cows and may reflect different nutrient requirements and partitioning.

Sustainable production of food grade omega-3 oil using aquatic protists: Reliability and future horizons

Biotechnological production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has become a commercial alternative to fish oil in the past twenty years. Compared to PUFA production by fatty fishes, that from microorganisms has increased due to its promising sustainability and high product safety and to increasing awareness in the expanding vegan market. Although autotrophic production by microalgae seems to be more sustainable in the long term, to date most of the microbial production of omega-3 is carried out under heterotrophic conditions using conventional fermentation technologies. The present review critically analyzes the main reasons for this discrepancy and reports on the recent advances and the most promising approaches for its future development in the context of sustainability and circular economy.

Long-term and transgenerational phenotypic, transcriptional and metabolic effects in rabbit males born following vitrified embryo transfer

The advent of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in mammals involved an extraordinary change in the environment where the beginning of a new organism takes place. Under in vitro conditions, in which ART is currently being performed, it likely fails to mimic optimal in vivo conditions. This suboptimal environment could mediate in the natural developmental trajectory of the embryo, inducing lasting effects until later life stages that may be inherited by subsequent generations (transgenerational effects). Therefore, we evaluated the potential transgenerational effects of embryo exposure to the cryopreservation-transfer procedure in a rabbit model on the offspring phenotype, molecular physiology of the liver (transcriptome and metabolome) and reproductive performance during three generations (F1, F2 and F3). The results showed that, compared to naturally-conceived animals (NC group), progeny generated after embryo exposure to the cryopreservation-transfer procedure (VT group) exhibited lower body growth, which incurred lower adult body weight in the F1 (direct effects), F2 (intergenerational effects) and F3 (transgenerational effects) generations. Furthermore, VT animals showed intergenerational effects on heart weight and transgenerational effects on liver weight. The RNA-seq data of liver tissue revealed 642 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in VT animals from the F1 generation. Of those, 133 were inherited from the F2 and 120 from the F3 generation. Accordingly, 151, 190 and 159 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected from the F1, F2 and F3, respectively. Moreover, targeted metabolomics analysis demonstrated that transgenerational effects were mostly presented in the non-polar fraction. Functional analysis of molecular data suggests weakened zinc and fatty acid metabolism across the generations, associated with alterations in a complex molecular network affecting global hepatic metabolism that could be associated with the phenotype of VT animals. However, these VT animals showed proper reproductive performance, which verified a functional health status. In conclusion, our results establish the long-term transgenerational effects following a vitrified embryo transfer procedure. We showed that the VT phenotype could be the result of the manifestation of embryonic developmental plasticity in response to the stressful conditions during ART procedures.