N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: relationship to inflammation in healthy adults and adults exhibiting features of metabolic syndrome

Differential gene expression in Clostridium perfringens during pre-and post-infection phases and in jejunal tissues of broilers with necrotic enteritis induced by Clostridium perfringens alone and its coinfection with Eimeria

The pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis (NE) involves complex gene regulation at both the bacterial cell and host tissue levels, yet many aspects remain incompletely understood. This study aims to compare the differential transcriptome of the netB-positive Clostridium perfringens strain, CP54, before and after infection. Differentially expressed genes and pathways were also examined in jejunal tissues from CP54-induced and CP54-Eimeria coinfected NE models to identify potential targets for mitigating NE. Forty-one-day-old Cobb straight-run broilers were assigned to four groups: CP and Eimeria coinfection group (EimCP), Eimeria infection group (Eim), CP54 infection group (CP), and untreated control (CTL). Subclinical and severe NE models were established by oral infection with CP54 alone and CP54-Eimeria coinfection, respectively. Three post-infection CP54 strains (CPd1, CPd2, and CPd3) were isolated from necrotic jejunal mucosa in the EimCP group and analyzed alongside pre-infection CP54 using 4-plex bacterial RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Jejunal tissues were collected and analyzed for differentially expressed genes between groups via tissue RNA-seq. The results showed that post-infection CP54 strains exhibited unique gene regulation patterns associated with environmental adaptation, including upregulation of oxidation-reduction processes, oxidoreductase activity, and downregulation of pyrimidine metabolism. However, no differential expressed virulence genes, including cpa, colA, lepB, luxS, nanI, netB, and cpb2, were identified between the pre- and post-infection CP54 cells. In host tissues, the analysis revealed significant activation of cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and Toll-like receptor pathways that contribute to inflammatory responses. Upregulating IL8, IL12B, and INHBA played a key role in activating these pathways. Additionally, NE-infected jejunal tissues displayed suppressed PPAR pathway activity and increased p53 signaling. These changes suggest a significant role for apoptosis, immune regulation, and lipid metabolism in the progression of the disease. In summary, this study identifies key genes and transcripts associated with NE at both the bacterial and host levels, offering perspectives on the pathways driving disease progression and host-pathogen interactions. These findings provide crucial insights for developing effective prevention and control strategies, ultimately reducing NE risks and associated losses in the broiler industry.

Insulin Resistance, Obesity, and Lipotoxicity

Lipotoxicity, originally used to describe the destructive effects of excess fat accumulation on glucose metabolism, causes functional impairments in several metabolic pathways, both in adipose tissue and peripheral organs, like liver, heart, pancreas, and muscle. Ectopic lipid accumulation in the kidneys, liver, and heart has important clinical counterparts like diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity-related glomerulopathy, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiomyopathy. Insulin resistance due to lipotoxicity indirectly lead to reproductive system disorders, like polycystic ovary syndrome. Lipotoxicity has roles in insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction. Increased circulating levels of lipids and the metabolic alterations in fatty acid utilization and intracellular signaling have been related to insulin resistance in muscle and liver. Different pathways, like novel protein kinase c pathways and the JNK-1 pathway, are involved as the mechanisms of how lipotoxicity leads to insulin resistance in nonadipose tissue organs, such as liver and muscle. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Endoplasmic reticulum stress, through mainly increased oxidative stress, also plays an important role in the etiology of insulin resistance, especially seen in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Visceral adiposity and insulin resistance both increase the cardiometabolic risk, and lipotoxicity seems to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of these associations.

Investigating the catalytic efficiency of C22-Fatty acids with LOX human isozymes and the platelet response of the C22-oxylipin products

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been extensively studied for their health benefits because they can be oxidized by lipoxygenases to form bioactive oxylipins. In this study, we investigated the impact of double bond placement on the kinetic properties and product profiles of human platelet 12-lipoxygenase (h12-LOX), human reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase-1 (h15-LOX-1), and human endothelial 15-lipoxygenase-2 (h15-LOX-2) by using 22-carbon (C22) fatty acid substrates with differing double bond content. With respect to kcat/KM values, the loss of Δ4 and Δ19 led to an 18-fold loss of kinetic activity for h12-LOX, no change in kinetic capability for h15-LOX-1, but a 24-fold loss for h15-LOX-2 for both C22-FAs. With respect to the product profiles, h12-LOX produced mainly 14-oxylipins. For h15-LOX-1, the 14-oxylipin production increased with the loss of either Δ4 and Δ19, however, the 17-oxylipin became the major species upon loss of both Δ4 and Δ19. h15-LOX-2 produced mostly the 17-oxylipin products throughout the fatty acid series. This study also investigated the effects of various 17-oxylipins on platelet activation. The results revealed that both 17(S)-hydroxy-4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,15E,19Z-DHA (17-HDHA) and 17-hydroxy-4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,15E-DPAn6 (17-HDPAn6) demonstrated anti-aggregation properties with thrombin or collagen stimulation. 17-hydroxy-7Z,10Z,13Z,15E,19Z-DPAn3 (17-HDPAn3) exhibited agonistic properties, and 17-hydroxy-7Z,10Z,13Z,15E-DTA (17-HDTA) showed biphasic effects, inhibiting collagen-induced aggregation at lower concentrationsbut promoting aggregation at higher concentrations. Both 17-hydroxy-13Z,15E,19Z-DTrA (17-HDTrA), and 17-hydroxy-13Z,15E-DDiA (17-HDDiA) induced platelet aggregation. In summary, the number and placement of the double bonds affect platelet activation, with the general trend being that more double bonds generally inhibit aggregation, while less double bonds promote aggregation. These findings provide insights into the potential role of specific fatty acids and their metabolizing LOX isozymes with respect to cardiovascular health.

The association between meal specific low carbohydrate diet score and cardiometabolic risk factors: A cross-sectional study of Iranian adults

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Since evidence regarding low-CHO diet and cardiometabolic risk factors is controversial, this study aimed to assess the relation between low-CHO diet score and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiometabolic risk factors among a group of Iranian adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 840 subjects with the age range of 20-65 years. Dietary intakes were assessed by completing three 24-hour recalls. Total, animal- and vegetable-based low-CHO diet score were calculated. We used logistic regression with different models to determine whether there were relationships between low-CHO diet score and MetS and MetS components.

RESULTS

We found that there was no significant association between low-CHO diet, animal-based and vegetable-based low-CHO diet scores and risk of MetS in three meals. Except for the animal-based low-CHO diet score, which was significantly associated with general obesity at lunch meal (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.76-1.82, P = .03). There were a significant association between low-CHO diet and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in lunch meal (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.06-2.14, P = .03). Vegetable-based low-CHO diet score was associated with a lower risk of elevated TG in lunch meal in the fully adjusted model (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39-0.90, P = .04).

CONCLUSION

Diets with lower amounts of carbohydrate and higher contents of fat and protein were not significantly associated with the risk for MetS in Iranian adults. Only animal-based low-CHO diet score was significantly associated with general obesity at lunch meal.

The impact of EPA and DHA on ceramide lipotoxicity in the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and dyslipidaemia. Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) enriched in SFA leads to the accumulation of ceramide (Cer), the central molecule in sphingolipid metabolism. Elevations in plasma and tissue Cer are found in obese individuals, and there is evidence to suggest that Cer lipotoxicity contributes to the MetS. EPA and DHA have shown to improve MetS parameters including IR, inflammation and hypertriacylglycerolaemia; however, whether these improvements are related to Cer is currently unknown. This review examines the potential of EPA and DHA to improve Cer lipotoxicity and MetS parameters including IR, inflammation and dyslipidaemia in vitro and in vivo. Current evidence from cell culture and animal studies indicates that EPA and DHA attenuate palmitate- or HFD-induced Cer lipotoxicity and IR, whereas evidence in humans is greatly lacking. Overall, there is intriguing potential for EPA and DHA to improve Cer lipotoxicity and related MetS parameters, but more research is warranted.

Seafood Intake as a Method of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Prevention in Adults

Seafood (fish in particular) is one of the main food groups in nutrition models with proven health benefits. Seafood has long been considered a very valuable dietary component, mainly due to presence of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) but it is also an important source of protein (including collagen), anserine, taurine, iodine, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin D, tocopherols, B vitamins and astaxanthin. Considering the beneficial effects of these ingredients on blood pressure, lipid profile and the inflammatory process, seafood should be an essential component of the diet. Non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and mental disorder, chronic respiratory diseases are common diseases associated with advanced age. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle (including proper nutritional behavior) and prevention of diseases are the most effective and efficient ways to decrease premature mortality from NCD and to maintain mental health and well-being. This review article shows the potential preventive and therapeutic effects of seafood with an emphasis on fish. Our narrative review presents the results of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Pharmacology of Free Fatty Acid Receptors and Their Allosteric Modulators

The physiological function of free fatty acids (FFAs) has long been regarded as indirect in terms of their activities as educts and products in metabolic pathways. The observation that FFAs can also act as signaling molecules at FFA receptors (FFARs), a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), has changed the understanding of the interplay of metabolites and host responses. Free fatty acids of different chain lengths and saturation statuses activate FFARs as endogenous agonists via binding at the orthosteric receptor site. After FFAR deorphanization, researchers from the pharmaceutical industry as well as academia have identified several ligands targeting allosteric sites of FFARs with the aim of developing drugs to treat various diseases such as metabolic, (auto)inflammatory, infectious, endocrinological, cardiovascular, and renal disorders. GPCRs are the largest group of transmembrane proteins and constitute the most successful drug targets in medical history. To leverage the rich biology of this target class, the drug industry seeks alternative approaches to address GPCR signaling. Allosteric GPCR ligands are recognized as attractive modalities because of their auspicious pharmacological profiles compared to orthosteric ligands. While the majority of marketed GPCR drugs interact exclusively with the orthosteric binding site, allosteric mechanisms in GPCR biology stay medically underexploited, with only several allosteric ligands currently approved. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the biology of FFAR1 (GPR40), FFAR2 (GPR43), FFAR3 (GPR41), FFAR4 (GPR120), and GPR84, including structural aspects of FFAR1, and discusses the molecular pharmacology of FFAR allosteric ligands as well as the opportunities and challenges in research from the perspective of drug discovery.

Necrotic enteritis challenge regulates peroxisome proliferator-1 activated receptors signaling and β-oxidation pathways in broiler chickens

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an important enteric disease in poultry and has become a major concern in poultry production in the post-antibiotic era. The infection with NE can damage the intestinal mucosa of the birds leading to impaired health and, thus, productivity. To gain a better understanding of how NE impacts the gut function of infected broilers, global mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in the jejunum tissue of NE challenged and non-challenged broilers to identify the pathways and genes affected by this disease. Briefly, to induce NE, birds in the challenge group were inoculated with 1 mL of Eimeria species on day 9 followed by 1 mL of approximately 10⁸ CFU/mL of a NetB producing Clostridium perfringens on days 14 and 15. On day 16, 2 birds in each treatment were randomly selected and euthanized and the whole intestinal tract was evaluated for lesion scores. Duodenum tissue samples from one of the euthanized birds of each replicate (n = 4) was used for histology, and the jejunum tissue for RNA extraction. RNA-seq analysis was performed with an Illumina RNA HiSeq 2000 sequencer. The differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified and functional analysis was performed in DAVID to find protein–protein interactions (PPI). At a false discovery rate threshold <0.05, a total of 377 DEG (207 upregulated and 170 downregulated) DEG were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEG were considerably enriched in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling (P < 0.01) and β-oxidation pathways (P < 0.05). The DEG were mostly related to fatty acid metabolism and degradation (cluster of differentiation 36 [CD36], acyl-CoA synthetase bubblegum family member-1 [ACSBG1], fatty acid-binding protein-1 and -2 [FABP1] and [FABP2]; and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase-1 [ACSL1]), bile acid production and transportation (acyl-CoA oxidase-2 [ACOX2], apical sodium–bile acid transporter [ASBT]) and essential genes in the immune system (interferon-, [IFN-γ], LCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase [LCK], zeta chain of T cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 kDa [ZAP70], and aconitate decarboxylase 1 [ACOD1]). Our data revealed that pathways related to fatty acid digestion were significantly compromised which thereby could have affected metabolic and immune responses in NE infected birds.

Systematic review of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplementation effects on leptin, adiponectin, and the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio

Increasing evidence suggests that adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, produced and secreted by adipocytes, are involved in regulating systemic inflammation and may be important targets for interventions to reduce the chronic systemic inflammation linked to some conditions common in aging (e.g., atherosclerosis). Lower leptin levels and higher adiponectin levels in peripheral circulation have been associated with less systemic inflammation. While some studies have shown that marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and/or docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) have effects on leptin and adiponectin in the context of inflammation, the extent of their effects remain unclear. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize findings from randomized, controlled trials that measured effects of EPA+DHA supplementation on circulating levels of leptin and adiponectin to determine the state of the science. PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Trials were searched up to June 2018 for studies meeting inclusion criteria. Thirty-one studies included in this review were conducted in 16 countries. Eighteen studies reported lower leptin and/or higher adiponectin levels with EPA+DHA supplementation versus placebo at study end point (9 reported statistically significant differences), but doses, supplementation duration, and population characteristics varied across studies. In 9 studies reporting significantly lower leptin and/or higher adiponectin levels the EPA+DHA dose was 0.52 to 4.2 g/day for 4 to 24 weeks. Additional studies are warranted which assess dose parameters and patient populations similar to studies reporting significant effects of EPA+DHA on leptin or adiponectin in order to evaluate the extent of reproducibility before recommending EPA+DHA as a therapy to target these adipokines.

The effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory factors in HIV-infected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

High concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory markers are common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and are associated with non-HIV related comorbidity and mortality. Data on the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid (omega-3 FA) supplementation for improving inflammation status in HIV-infected patients are controversial. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the beneficial effects of omega-3 FAs on controlling inflammation in HIV-infected patients. We conducted a comprehensive search of the major biomedical databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane library, for all potentially relevant studies published without restriction from the beginning of time to June 2020. Overall, nine RCTs were included comprising a total of 427 participants. A random-effects model was used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the effect was measured as standardized mean difference (SMD). Supplementation of omega-3 FAs showed a significant reduction of CRP (SMD: -0.27, 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.07, P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in levels of TNF-α (SMD: 0.03, 95% CI: -0.79 to 0.85, P = 0.94, I² = 87%) and IL-6 (SMD: -0.13, 95% CI: -0.59 to 0.32, P = 0.57, I² = 73%, Fig. 3). The results indicate that the supplementation of omega-3 FAs in HIV-infected patients significantly decreases serum CRP levels when compared to the control group, however has no significant effect on IL-6 and TNF-α levels.

Fish Consumption and the Risk of Chronic Disease: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Prospective Cohort Studies

We aimed to present a comprehensive review of published meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies on the association of fish consumption and the risk of chronic disease. A systematic search was undertaken in Pubmed and Scopus to October 2019 to find meta-analyses of observational studies evaluating the association of fish consumption and the risk of chronic disease. Retrospective and cross-sectional studies and studies with unadjusted risk estimates were excluded. The summary relative risk (SRR) for each meta-analysis was recalculated by using a random-effects model. The methodological quality of included meta-analyses and the quality of the evidence were assessed by the AMSTAR and NutriGrade tools, respectively. A total of 34 meta-analyses of prospective observational studies, reporting SRRs for 40 different outcomes obtained from 298 primary prospective cohort studies, were included. Moderate-quality evidence suggested that each 100-g/d increment in fish consumption was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (SRR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.87, 0.97), cardiovascular mortality (SRR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.87), coronary heart disease (SRR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.99), myocardial infarction (SRR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.93), stroke (SRR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.99), heart failure (SRR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.95), depression (SRR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.98), and liver cancer (SRR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.87). For cancers of most sites, there was no significant association and the quality of the evidence was rated low and very low. In conclusion, evidence of moderate quality suggests that fish consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and mortality and, therefore, can be considered as a healthy animal-based dietary source of protein. Further research is needed for outcomes for which the quality of the evidence was rated low and very low, considering types of fish consumed, different methods of cooking fish, and all potential confounding variables.

Fish-derived proteins and their potential to improve human health

Emerging evidence from studies evaluating the effect of lean fish consumption in humans suggests that proteins from fish have several beneficial metabolic effects. Rest, or waste, material from the fishing industry contains high-quality proteins, and utilization of this material offers novel possibilities for the development of protein-containing products that might be beneficial for human consumption. Fish-derived peptides containing bioactive amino acid sequences suggested to beneficially influence pathways involved in body composition, hypertension, lipid profile, and regulation of glucose metabolism are of particular interest, although the results of published studies are conflicting. This review aims to summarize current knowledge from animal studies and clinical interventions in humans evaluating the effects of lean fish, fish proteins, and fish-derived peptides on outcomes related to metabolic health. Fish proteins have a high content of taurine, and animal trials suggest that taurine mediates some of the beneficial effects observed thus far, although the mechanisms by which fish peptides exert their action are not yet elucidated. At this time, the literature is inconsistent, and there is insufficient mechanistic evidence to support a beneficial effect of fish-derived peptides on metabolic health.

Enhancing oil production in Arabidopsis through expression of a ketoacyl-ACP synthase domain of the PUFA synthase from Thraustochytrium

BACKGROUND

Plant seed oil is an important bioresource for human food and animal feed, as well as industrial bioproducts. Therefore, increasing oil content in seeds has been one of the primary targets in the breeding programs of oilseed crops. Thraustochytrium is a marine protist that can produce a high level of very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs) using a PUFA synthase, a polyketide synthase-like fatty acid synthase with multiple catalytic domains. Our previous study showed that a KS domain from the synthase could complement an Escherichia coli mutant defective in β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I (FabB) and increase the total fatty acid production. In this study, this KS domain from the PUFA synthase was further functionally analyzed in Arabidopsis thaliana for the capacity of oil production.

RESULTS

The plastidial expression of the KS domain could complement the defective phenotypes of a KASI knockout mutant generated by CRISPR/Cas9. Seed-specific expression of the domain in wild-type Arabidopsis significantly increased seed weight and seed oil, and altered the unsaturation level of fatty acids in seeds, as well as promoted seed germination and early seedling growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The condensation process of fatty acid biosynthesis in plants is a limiting step, and overexpression of the KS domain from a PUFA synthase of microbial origin offers a new strategy to increase oil production in oilseed plants.

Metabolic signature associated with parameters of the complete blood count in apparently healthy individuals

Metabolomics studies now approach large sample sizes and the health characterization of the study population often include complete blood count (CBC) results. Upon careful interpretation the CBC aids diagnosis and provides insight into the health status of the patient within a clinical setting. Uncovering metabolic signatures associated with parameters of the CBC in apparently healthy individuals may facilitate interpretation of metabolomics studies in general and related to diseases. For this purpose 879 subjects from the population‐based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)‐TREND were included. Using metabolomics data resulting from mass‐spectrometry based measurements in plasma samples associations of specific CBC parameters with metabolites were determined by linear regression models. In total, 118 metabolites significantly associated with at least one of the CBC parameters. Strongest associations were observed with metabolites of heme degradation and energy production/consumption. Inverse association seen with mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin comprised metabolites potentially related to kidney function. The presently identified metabolic signatures are likely derived from the general function and formation/elimination of blood cells. The wealth of associated metabolites strongly argues to consider CBC in the interpretation of metabolomics studies, in particular if mutual effects on those parameters by the disease of interest are known.

Is Grassfed Meat and Dairy Better for Human and Environmental Health?

The health of livestock, humans, and environments is tied to plant diversity-and associated phytochemical richness-across landscapes. Health is enhanced when livestock forage on phytochemically rich landscapes, is reduced when livestock forage on simple mixture or monoculture pastures or consume high-grain rations in feedlots, and is greatly reduced for people who eat highly processed diets. Circumstantial evidence supports the hypothesis that phytochemical richness of herbivore diets enhances biochemical richness of meat and dairy, which is linked with human and environmental health. Among many roles they play in health, phytochemicals in herbivore diets protect meat and dairy from protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation that cause low-grade systemic inflammation implicated in heart disease and cancer in humans. Yet, epidemiological and ecological studies critical of red meat consumption do not discriminate among meats from livestock fed high-grain rations as opposed to livestock foraging on landscapes of increasing phytochemical richness. The global shift away from phytochemically and biochemically rich wholesome foods to highly processed diets enabled 2.1 billion people to become overweight or obese and increased the incidence of type II diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Unimpeded, these trends will add to a projected substantial increase in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) from producing food and clearing land by 2050. While agriculture contributes one quarter of GHGE, livestock can play a sizable role in climate mitigation. Of 80 ways to alleviate climate change, regenerative agriculture-managed grazing, silvopasture, tree intercropping, conservation agriculture, and farmland restoration-jointly rank number one as ways to sequester GHG. Mitigating the impacts of people in the Anthropocene can be enabled through diet to improve human and environmental health, but that will require profound changes in society. People will have to learn we are members of nature's communities. What we do to them, we do to ourselves. Only by nurturing them can we nurture ourselves.

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is linearly associated with dietary quality and predicts mortality

Chronic inflammation is associated with disease risk and mortality in the general population. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a stable marker of chronic inflammation, and a higher serum-concentration of suPAR is found in individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking. This article investigates the association between suPAR and dietary quality measured with the dietary quality score (DQS). The DQS is an index of the overall quality of an individual's dietary habits assessed through a self-administered FFQ. Furthermore, this article investigates the association of both suPAR and the DQS with CVD risk and mortality in the general Danish population. We analysed 5347 individuals aged 30-60 years from the Danish Inter99 study cohort. Multiple linear regression analyses showed a linear inverse association between the DQS and suPAR (P=0·0005). Cox regression analyses showed an 18 (95 % CI 9, 26) % increase in the risk of death from any cause with each 1 ng/ml increase in suPAR. We found no significant association between the DQS and the mortality (hazard ratio: 1·16, 95 % CI 0·79, 1·69). All analyses were adjusted for demographics and lifestyle factors. The association between the DQS and suPAR on the one hand and suPAR and mortality on the other supports the argument that low dietary quality may constitute a health risk through its influence on chronic inflammation. Future research should examine whether suPAR is modifiable through changes in dietary habits.

Cloning of the pks3 gene of Aurantiochytrium limacinum and functional study of the 3-ketoacyl-ACP reductase and dehydratase enzyme domains

Aurantiochytrium limacinum has received attention because of its abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is synthesized through the polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway in A. limacinum. The related enzymes of the PKS pathway are mainly expressed by three gene clusters, called pks1, pks2 and pks3. In this study, the full-length pks3 gene was obtained by polymerase chain reaction amplification and Genome Walking technology. Based on a domain analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the pks3 gene, 3-ketoacyl-ACP reductase (KR) and dehydratase (DH) enzyme domains were identified. Herein, A. limacinum OUC168 was engineered by gene knock-in of KR and DH using the 18S rDNA sequence as the homologous recombination site. Total fatty acid contents and the degree of unsaturation of total fatty acids increased after the kr or dh gene was knocked in. The cloning and functional study of the pks3 gene of A. limacinum establishes a foundation for revealing the DHA synthetic pathway. Gene knock-in of the enzyme domain associated with PKS synthesis has the potential to provide effective recombinant strains with higher DHA content for industrial applications.

High-Fat Feeding Improves Anxiety-Type Behavior Induced by Ovariectomy in Rats

Menopause-induced changes may include increased incidence of both depression/anxiety and obesity. We hypothesized that behavioral changes that may develop after ovarian failure could be related to neurochemical and metabolic aspects affected by this condition and that high-fat intake may influence these associations. The present study investigated in rats the effects of ovariectomy, either alone or combined with high-fat diets enriched with either lard or fish-oil, on metabolic, behavioral and monoaminergic statuses, and on gene expression of neuropeptides and receptors involved in energy balance and mood regulation. Female rats had their ovaries removed and received either standard chow (OvxC) or high-fat diets enriched with either lard (OvxL) or fish-oil (OvxF) for 8 weeks. The Sham group received only chow diet. Ovariectomy increased feed efficiency and body weight gain and impaired glucose homeostasis and serotonin-induced hypophagia, effects either maintained or even accentuated by the lard diet but counteracted by the fish diet. The OvxL group developed obesity and hyperleptinemia. Regarding components of hypothalamic serotonergic system, both ovariectomy alone or combined with the fish diet increased 5-HT2C expression while the lard diet reduced 5-HT1B mRNA. Ovariectomy increased the anxiety index, as derived from the elevated plus maze test, while both high-fat groups showed normalization of this index. In the forced swimming test, ovariectomy allied to high-lard diet, but not to fish-oil diet, reduced the latency to immobility, indicating vulnerability to a depressive-like state. Linear regression analysis showed hippocampal AgRP to be negatively associated with the anxiety index and hypothalamic AgRP to be positively associated with the latency to immobility. These AgRp gene expression associations are indicative of a beneficial involvement of this neuropeptide on both depression and anxiety measures. The present findings demonstrate metabolic, neurochemical and behavioral alterations after ovaries removal and highlight a positive effect of high-fat feeding on the anxiety-like behavior shown by ovariectomized animals. Since the polyunsaturated ômega-3 intake (fish diet), unlike the saturated fat intake (lard diet), failed to induce deleterious metabolic or neurochemical consequences, further studies are needed focusing on the potential of this dietary component as an adjuvant anxiolytic agent after menopause.

Expansion, retention and loss in the Acyl-CoA synthetase "Bubblegum" (Acsbg) gene family in vertebrate history

Fatty acids (FAs) constitute a considerable fraction of all lipid molecules with a fundamental role in numerous physiological processes. In animals, the majority of complex lipid molecules are derived from the transformation of FAs through several biochemical pathways. Yet, for FAs to enroll in these pathways they require an activation step. FA activation is catalyzed by the rate limiting action of Acyl-CoA synthases. Several Acyl-CoA enzyme families have been previously described and classified according to the chain length of FAs they process. Here, we address the evolutionary history of the ACSBG gene family which activates, FAs with >16 carbons. Currently, two different ACSBG gene families, ACSBG1 and ACSBG2, are recognized in vertebrates. We provide evidence that a wider and unequal ACSBG gene repertoire is present in vertebrate lineages. We identify a novel ACSBG-like gene lineage which occurs specifically in amphibians, ray finned fishes, coelacanths and cartilaginous fishes named ACSBG3. Also, we show that the ACSBG2 gene lineage duplicated in the Theria ancestor. Our findings, thus offer a far richer understanding on FA activation in vertebrates and provide key insights into the relevance of comparative and functional analysis to perceive physiological differences, namely those related with lipid metabolic pathways.

Docosahexaenoic acid antagonizes the boosting effect of palmitic acid on LPS inflammatory signaling by inhibiting gene transcription and ceramide synthesis

It is well known that saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and unsaturated fatty acid, in particular omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), have different effects on inflammatory signaling: SFAs are pro-inflammatory but n-3 PUFAs have strong anti-inflammatory properties. We have reported that palmitic acid (PA), a saturated fatty acid, robustly amplifies lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling to upregulate proinflammatory gene expression in macrophages. We also reported that the increased production of ceramide (CER) via sphingomyelin (SM) hydrolysis and CER de novo synthesis plays a key role in the synergistic effect of LPS and PA on proinflammatory gene expression. However, it remains unclear if n-3 PUFAs are capable of antagonizing the synergistic effect of LPS and PA on gene expression and CER production. In this study, we employed the above macrophage culture system and lipidomical analysis to assess the effect of n-3 PUFAs on proinflammatory gene expression and CER production stimulated by LPS and PA. Results showed that DHA strongly inhibited the synergistic effect of LPS and PA on proinflammatory gene expression by targeting nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)-dependent gene transcription. Results also showed that DHA inhibited the cooperative effect of LPS and PA on CER production by targeting CER de novo synthesis, but not SM hydrolysis. Furthermore, results showed that myriocin, a specific inhibitor of serine palmitoyltransferase, strongly inhibited both LPS-PA-stimulated CER synthesis and proinflammatory gene expression, indicating that CER synthesis is associated with proinflammatory gene expression and that inhibition of CER synthesis contributes to DHA-inhibited proinflammatory gene expression. Taken together, this study demonstrates that DHA antagonizes the boosting effect of PA on LPS signaling on proinflammatory gene expression by targeting both NFκB-dependent transcription and CER de novo synthesis in macrophages.

Fish consumption and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a dose–response meta-analysis of prospective observational studies

Objective

There are some indications of regional differences in the association between fish consumption and clinical outcomes. We aimed to test the linear and potential non-linear dose–response relationships between fish consumption and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality, and possible confounding by region.

Design

Systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis.

Setting

Systematic search using PubMed and Scopus, from inception up to September 2016.

Subjects

Prospective observational studies reporting the estimates of all-cause and CVD mortality in relation to three or more categories of fish intake were included. Random-effects dose–response meta-analysis was conducted.

Results

Fourteen prospective cohort studies (ten publications) with 911 348 participants and 75 451 incident deaths were included. A 20 g/d increment in fish consumption was significantly and inversely associated with the risk of CVD mortality (relative risk=0·96; 95 % CI 0·94, 0·98; I2=0 %, n 8) and marginally and inversely associated with the risk of all-cause mortality (relative risk=0·98; 95 % CI 0·97, 1·00; I2=81·9 %, n 14). Subgroup analysis resulted in a significant association only in the subgroup of Asian studies, compared with Western studies, in both analyses. Analysis of Western studies suggested a nearly U-shaped association, with a nadir at fish consumption of ~20 g/d in analysis of both outcomes. Meanwhile, the associations appeared to be linear in Asian studies.

Conclusions

There was potential evidence of regional differences in the association between fish consumption and mortality. It may be helpful to examine the associations by considering types of fish consumed and methods of fish preparation.

Pharmacokinetics and Oxidation Parameters in Volunteers Supplemented with Microencapsulated Docosahexaenoic Acid

Context:

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid essential for cardiovascular health, brain development, and reproductive function. Due to hydrophobicity and low DHA bioavailability, new microencapsulated DHA formulations are under development.

Aim:

This study aims to evaluate DHA pharmacokinetics (PKs) and biological oxidation parameters in volunteers ingesting a newly developed lutein-containing lycosomal formulation of DHA (LF-DHA).

Materials and Methods:

A total of 32 healthy volunteers (40–65 years old) with signs of oxidative stress (OS) and subclinical hypoxia were orally supplemented for a month with 250 mg of regular DHA (1^st group) or a combination of lutein (7.0 mg) and zeaxanthin (1.4 mg) (2^nd group). The third group received regular DHA (250 mg) co-ingested with lutein/zeaxanthin (7.0/1.4 mg), whereas the 4^th group was given LF-DHA containing lutein/zeaxanthin (7.0/1.4 mg). PK, OS, and oxygenation parameters were analyzed.

Results:

LF-DHA improved the PKs of DHA enhancing its serum concentrations time dependently by 34.6% and 94.1% after 2^nd and 4^th weeks, respectively. DHA and lutein ingested either alone or simultaneously as two separate formulations reduced the levels of OS markers. However, LF-DHA inhibited the malonicdialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein values were better than other formulations. LF-DHA also enhanced the plasma oxygen and tissue oxygen saturation. This effect was significantly higher than in other groups.

Conclusion:

LF-DHA eliminates the need in high-dose DHA supplementation protocols and confers a higher DHA bioavailability, thereby improving the parameters of biological oxidation and tissue respiration in affected individuals.

Integrated Immunomodulatory Mechanisms through which Long-Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Attenuate Obese Adipose Tissue Dysfunction

Obesity is a global health concern with rising prevalence that increases the risk of developing other chronic diseases. A causal link connecting overnutrition, the development of obesity and obesity-associated co-morbidities is visceral adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, characterized by changes in the cellularity of various immune cell populations, altered production of inflammatory adipokines that sustain a chronic state of low-grade inflammation and, ultimately, dysregulated AT metabolic function. Therefore, dietary intervention strategies aimed to halt the progression of obese AT dysfunction through any of the aforementioned processes represent an important active area of research. In this connection, fish oil-derived dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the form of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been demonstrated to attenuate obese AT dysfunction through multiple mechanisms, ultimately affecting AT immune cellularity and function, adipokine production, and metabolic signaling pathways, all of which will be discussed herein.

Antiobesity and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Orally Administered Bonito Extracts on Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

Background

The condensed fermentative extract of bonito (BoE), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), has claimed its health conditioning effects against lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We evaluated the antiobesity and anti-inflammatory effects of BoE on mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Mice (9 weeks of age) were maintained for 11 weeks on HFD with or without BoE (50 mg or 500 mg/kg).

Results

Compared with untreated mice, BoE50 or BoE500 mice achieved maximum weight reductions of 7.4% (males) and 11.4% (females), and visceral fat in male BoE500 mice was more decreased among all mice (P = 0.00459). Furthermore, an antiobesity gene uncoupling protein-1 was significantly induced in the visceral fat tissues of male BoE500 (P = 0.0110) and female BoE50 and BoE500 mice (P = 0.0110 and P = 0.0110, resp.). Finally, we detected reduced amount of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (P = 0.0250) in the sera of female BoE50 and interleukin- (IL-) 5 (P = 0.0120), IL-6 (P = 0.0118), and IL-13 (P = 0.0243) in female BoE500 mice.

Conclusion

The antiobesity and anti-inflammatory effects of BoE were demonstrated with our examination system and any toxic adverse effects were not observed in mice during the 3-month investigation.

Insulin Resistance, Obesity and Lipotoxicity

Lipotoxicity , originally used to describe the destructive effects of excess fat accumulation on glucose metabolism, causes functional impairments in several metabolic pathways, both in adipose tissue and peripheral organs, like liver, heart, pancreas and muscle. Lipotoxicity has roles in insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction. Increased circulating levels of lipids and the metabolic alterations in fatty acid utilization and intracellular signaling, have been related to insulin resistance in muscle and liver. Different pathways, like novel protein kinase c pathways and the JNK-1 pathway are involved as the mechanisms of how lipotoxicity leads to insulin resistance in nonadipose tissue organs, such as liver and muscle. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Endoplasmic reticulum stress, through mainly increased oxidative stress, also plays important role in the etiology of insulin resistance, especially seen in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Visceral adiposity and insulin resistance both increase the cardiometabolic risk and lipotoxicity seems to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of these associations.

Polymorphisms of the TNF-α gene interact with plasma fatty acids on inflammatory biomarker profile: a population-based, cross-sectional study in São Paulo, Brazil

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of four TNF-α SNP with inflammatory biomarkers and plasma fatty acids (FA), and the interaction among them in a population-based, cross-sectional study in São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 281 subjects, aged >19 and <60 years, participated in a cross-sectional, population-based study performed in Brazil. The following SNP spanning the TNF-α gene were genotyped: -238G/A (rs361525), -308G/A (rs1800629), -857C/T (rs1799724) and -1031T/C (rs1799964). In all, eleven plasma inflammatory biomarkers and plasma FA profile were determined. To analyse the interaction between TNF-α SNP and plasma FA, a cluster analysis was performed to stratify individuals based on eleven inflammatory biomarkers into two groups used as outcome: inflammatory (INF) and non-inflammatory clusters. The -238A allele carriers had higher TNF-α (P=0·033), IL-6 (P=0·013), IL-1β (P=0·037), IL-12 (0·048) and IL-10 (P=0·010) than the GG genotype. The -308A allele carriers also had lower levels of plasma palmitoleic acid (P=0·009), oleic acid (P=0·039), total MUFA (P=0·014), stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity index-16 (P=0·007), SCD-18 (P=0·020) and higher levels of PUFA (P=0·046) and DHA (P=0·044). Significant interactions modifying the risk of belonging to the INF cluster were observed with inflammatory cluster as outcome between -857C/T and plasma α-linolenic acid (P=0·026), and also between -308G/A and plasma stearic acid (P=0·044) and total SFA (P=0·040). Our study contributes to knowledge on TNF-α SNP and their association with inflammatory biomarker levels, plasma FA and the interaction among them, of particular interest for the Brazilian population.

Biosynthetic mechanism of very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in Thraustochytrium sp. 26185

Thraustochytrium, a unicellular marine protist, has been used as a commercial source of very long chain PUFAs (VLCPUFAs) such as DHA (22:6n-3). Our recent work indicates coexistence of a Δ4-desaturation-dependent pathway (aerobic) and a polyketide synthase-like PUFA synthase pathway (anaerobic) to synthesize the fatty acids in Thraustochytrium sp. 26185. Heterologous expression of the Thraustochytrium PUFA synthase along with a phosphopantetheinyl transferase in Escherichia coli showed the anaerobic pathway was highly active in the biosynthesis of VLCPUFAs. The amount of Δ4 desaturated VLCPUFAs produced reached about 18% of the total fatty acids in the transformant cells at day 6 in a time course of the induced expression. In Thraustochytrium, the expression level of the PUFA synthase gene was much higher than that of the Δ4 desaturase gene, and also highly correlated with the production of VLCPUFAs. On the other hand, Δ9 and Δ12 desaturations in the aerobic pathway were either ineffective or absent in the species, as evidenced by the genomic survey, heterologous expression of candidate genes, and in vivo feeding experiments. These results indicate that the anaerobic pathway is solely responsible for the biosynthesis for VLCPUFAs in Thraustochytrium.

Chronic Glutathione Depletion Confers Protection against Alcohol-induced Steatosis: Implication for Redox Activation of AMP-activated Protein Kinase Pathway

The pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is not well established. However, oxidative stress and associated decreases in levels of glutathione (GSH) are known to play a central role in ALD. The present study examines the effect of GSH deficiency on alcohol-induced liver steatosis in Gclm knockout (KO) mice that constitutively have ≈15% normal hepatic levels of GSH. Following chronic (6 week) feeding with an ethanol-containing liquid diet, the Gclm KO mice were unexpectedly found to be protected against steatosis despite showing increased oxidative stress (as reflected in elevated levels of CYP2E1 and protein carbonyls). Gclm KO mice also exhibit constitutive activation of liver AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and nuclear factor-erythroid 2–related factor 2 target genes, and show enhanced ethanol clearance, altered hepatic lipid profiles in favor of increased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and concordant changes in expression of genes associated with lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, our data implicate a novel mechanism protecting against liver steatosis via an oxidative stress adaptive response that activates the AMPK pathway. We propose redox activation of the AMPK may represent a new therapeutic strategy for preventing ALD.

Plasma fatty acid patterns reflect dietary habits and metabolic health: A cross-sectional study

SCOPE

Using pattern analysis, we investigated the relationship between plasma fatty acid patterns, dietary intake, and biomarkers of metabolic health using data from the Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Plasma fatty acid patterns were derived from 26 plasma fatty acids using k-means cluster analysis. Four clusters were identified, each with a distinct fatty acid profile. Cluster 1 included high proportions of linoleic acid (LA) and low proportions of stearic acid (SA); cluster 2 was higher in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and SA; the profile of cluster 3 was higher in very-long-chain saturated fatty acid (VLCSFA) and lower in α-linolenic acid (ALA) (cluster 3); while cluster 4 was higher in fatty acids related to de novo lipogenesis and 20:3n-6 and lower in LA (cluster 4). In general, cluster 4 was associated with adverse metabolic profile and higher metabolic risk (p < 0.033). Clusters 2 and 3 were associated with healthier and protective phenotypes (p < 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Distinct fatty acid patterns were identified which were related to demographics, dietary habits, and metabolic profile. A pattern higher in VLCSFA and lower in ALA was associated with healthier metabolic outcome.

Microalgae as a Source for VLC-PUFA Production

Microalgae present a huge and still insufficiently tapped resource of very long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFA) for human nutrition and medicinal applications. This chapter describes the diversity of unicellular eukaryotic microalgae in respect to VLC-PUFA biosynthesis. Then, we outline the major biosynthetic pathways mediating the formation of VLC-PUFA by sequential desaturation and elongation of C18-PUFA acyl groups. We address the aspects of spatial localization of those pathways and elaborate on the role for VLC-PUFA in microalgal cells. Recent progress in microalgal genetic transformation and molecular engineering has opened the way to increased production efficiencies for VLC-PUFA. The perspectives of photobiotechnology and metabolic engineering of microalgae for altered or enhanced VLC-PUFA production are also discussed.

Fish oil supplemented for 9 months does not improve glycaemic control or insulin sensitivity in subjects with impaired glucose regulation: a parallel randomised controlled trial

The effects of fish oil (FO) supplementation on glycaemic control are unclear, and positive effects may occur only when the phospholipid content of tissue membranes exceeds 14 % asn-3 PUFA. Subjects (n36, thirty-three completed) were paired based on metabolic parameters and allocated into a parallel double-blind randomised trial with one of each pair offered daily either 6 g of FO (3·9 gn-3 PUFA) or 6 g of maize oil (MO) for 9 months. Hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic–euaminoacidaemic (HIEGEAA) clamps (with [6,62H2glucose]) were performed at the start and end of the intervention. Endogenous glucose production (EGP) and whole-body protein turnover (WBPT) were each measured after an overnight fast. The primary outcome involved the effect of oil type on insulin sensitivity related to glycaemic control. The secondary outcome involved the effect of oil type on WBPT. Subjects on FO (n16) had increased erythrocyten-3 PUFA concentrations >14 %, whereas subjects on MO (n17) had unalteredn-3 PUFA concentrations at 9 %. Type of oil had no effect on fasting EGP, insulin sensitivity or total glucose disposal during the HIEGEAA clamp. In contrast, under insulin-stimulated conditions, total protein disposal (P=0·007) and endogenous WBPT (P=0·001) were both increased with FO. In an associated pilot study (n4, three completed), althoughn-3 PUFA in erythrocyte membranes increased to >14 % with the FO supplement, the enrichment in muscle membranes remained lower (8 %;P<0·001). In conclusion, long-term supplementation with FO, at amounts near the safety limits set by regulatory authorities in Europe and the USA, did not alter glycaemic control but did have an impact on WBPT.

Omega-3 fatty acids and the treatment of depression: a review of scientific evidence

Depression is a condition in which an individual feels lethargic, irritable, and guilty, has difficulty and trouble, no enjoyment in life, mood swings, sometimes suicidal ideation and thoughts, and loss of pleasure in activities. There are hundreds of millions of individuals suffering from major depression disorder all over the world. This leads to a considerable portion of the economy going for treatment as large amounts of money are spent on drugs every year. Pharmaceutical drugs are not very effective and they also have side effects that compound the problem. There are number of studies which shows that omega-3 fatty acids are proving to be very effective against the treatment of major depression disorder and other psychiatric disorders. However, the data regarding the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in depression treatment are conflicted. This article reviews the recent research showing the relation between omega-3 fatty acids and depression. The roles of the omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depression are being studied with increased pace in the last decade due to heightened prevalence of depression. It is emphasized that omega-3 fatty acids have no record of associated side effects, which deserves greater attention for further research.

Low-grade inflammation, diet composition and health: current research evidence and its translation

The importance of chronic low-grade inflammation in the pathology of numerous age-related chronic conditions is now clear. An unresolved inflammatory response is likely to be involved from the early stages of disease development. The present position paper is the most recent in a series produced by the International Life Sciences Institute's European Branch (ILSI Europe). It is co-authored by the speakers from a 2013 workshop led by the Obesity and Diabetes Task Force entitled ‘Low-grade inflammation, a high-grade challenge: biomarkers and modulation by dietary strategies’. The latest research in the areas of acute and chronic inflammation and cardiometabolic, gut and cognitive health is presented along with the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation–health/disease associations. The evidence relating diet composition and early-life nutrition to inflammatory status is reviewed. Human epidemiological and intervention data are thus far heavily reliant on the measurement of inflammatory markers in the circulation, and in particular cytokines in the fasting state, which are recognised as an insensitive and highly variable index of tissue inflammation. Potential novel kinetic and integrated approaches to capture inflammatory status in humans are discussed. Such approaches are likely to provide a more discriminating means of quantifying inflammation–health/disease associations, and the ability of diet to positively modulate inflammation and provide the much needed evidence to develop research portfolios that will inform new product development and associated health claims.

Application of the Cre/loxP Site-Specific Recombination System for Gene Transformation in Aurantiochytrium limacinum

The Cre/loxP site-specific recombination system was applied to Aurantiochytrium limacinum to obtain a transformant without the antibiotic resistance marker gene. First, the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (egfp) and chloramphenicol resistance gene (Cmr), along with the two loxP loci, were integrated into the genome of A. limacinum OUC88 using 18S rDNA sequences as the homologous recombination sites. Then plasmid pSH65, containing a zeocin resistance gene (Bler) was transferred into A. limacinum OUC_CG. After induction with galactose, repeated passage in culture and PCR-based assessment, the pSH65 plasmid was lost and A. limacinum OUC_EG host was shown to no longer have resistance to 100 mg chloramphenicol/L or 5 mg zeocin/L. Through southern blotting and fluorescence detection, egfp was found to be integrated into the genome of A. limacinum OUC_EG, and EGFP was successfully expressed in the cells. The successful application of the Cre/loxP system demonstrates an experimental basis for genetic modification of A. limacinum so as to obtain transformed strains with no antibiotic resistance marker genes.

Is the Relationship between Common Mental Disorder and Adiposity Bidirectional? Prospective Analyses of a UK General Population-Based Study

The direction of the association between mental health and adiposity is poorly understood. Our objective was to empirically examine this link in a UK study. This is a prospective cohort study of 3 388 people (men) aged ≥ 18 years at study induction who participated in both the UK Health and Lifestyle Survey at baseline (HALS-1, 1984/1985) and the re-survey (HALS-2, 1991/1992). At both survey examinations, body mass index, waist circumference and self-reported common mental disorder (the 30-item General Health Questionnaire, GHQ) were measured. Logistic regression models were used to compute odds ratios (OR) and accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between (1) baseline common mental disorder (QHQ score > 4) and subsequent general and abdominal obesity and (2) baseline general and abdominal obesity and re-survey common mental disorders. After controlling for a range of covariates, participants with common mental disorder at baseline experienced greater odds of subsequently becoming overweight (women, OR: 1.30, 1.03 – 1.64; men, 1.05, 0.81 – 1.38) and obese (women, 1.26, 0.82 – 1.94; men, OR: 2.10, 1.23 – 3.55) than those who were free of common mental disorder. Similarly, having baseline common mental health disorder was also related to a greater risk of developing moderate (1.57, 1.21 – 2.04) and severe (1.48, 1.09 – 2.01) abdominal obesity (women only). Baseline general or abdominal obesity was not associated with the risk of future common mental disorder. These findings of the present study suggest that the direction of association between common mental disorders and adiposity is from common mental disorder to increased future risk of adiposity as opposed to the converse.

Docosahexaenoic acid-enriched canola oil increases adiponectin concentrations: a randomized crossover controlled intervention trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Little is known about the effect of various dietary fatty acids on pro- and anti-inflammatory processes. We investigated the effect of 5 oils containing various amounts of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), oleic acid (OA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on plasma inflammatory biomarkers and expression levels of key inflammatory genes and transcription factors in whole blood cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a randomized, crossover controlled nutrition intervention, 114 adult men and women with abdominal obesity and at least one other criterion for the metabolic syndrome consumed 5 experimental isoenergetic diets for 4 weeks each, separated by 4-week washout periods. Each diet provided 60 g/3000 kcal of different oils: 1) control corn/safflower oil blend (CornSaff; LA-rich), 2) flax/safflower oil blend (FlaxSaff; ALA-rich), 3) conventional canola oil (Canola; OA-rich), 4) high oleic canola oil (CanolaOleic; highest OA content), 5) DHA-enriched high oleic canola oil (CanolaDHA; OA- and DHA-rich). Gene expression in whole blood cells was assessed in a subset of 62 subjects. CanolaDHA increased plasma adiponectin concentrations compared with the control CornSaff oil treatment (+4.5%, P = 0.04) and FlaxSaff (+6.9%, P = 0.0008). CanolaDHA also reduced relative expression levels of interleukin (IL)1B compared with CornSaff and Canola (-11% and -13%, respectively, both P = 0.03). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations were lower after Canola than after FlaxSaff (-17.8%, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

DHA-enriched canola oil exerts anti-inflammatory effects compared with polyunsaturated fatty acids from plant sources.

Dietary fat alters the expression of cortistatin and ghrelin systems in the PBMCs of elderly subjects: putative implications in the postprandial inflammatory response

SCOPE

Dietary fat influences systemic inflammatory status, which determines the progression of age-associated diseases. Since somatostatin (SST), cortistatin (CORT), and ghrelin systems modulate inflammatory response, we aim to comprehensively characterize the presence and regulation of the components of these systems in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs), a subset of white blood cells placed at the crossroad between diet and inflammation, in response to diets with different fat composition, and during the postprandial phase in elderly subjects.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The applied nutrigenomic, inflammation-related PBMC-based approach revealed that the majority of components of SST/CORT and ghrelin systems are present in the human PBMCs. Particularly, CORT, SST/CORT receptors (sst2, sst3, sst5, and sst5TMD4), ghrelin, its acylating enzyme (GOAT), In1-ghrelin variant, and GHSR1b were detected in PBMCs. Their expression was altered in the long-term by diet composition, and in the short-term, during the postprandial phase. Of particular relevance is the postprandial elevation of CORT, sst2, and sst5 expression in PBMCs of subjects under n-3 PUFAs-enriched diet.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a potential relevant role of CORT/ssts and ghrelin systems in regulating PBMCs response to nutrient intake, which could help to explain the positive effects of n-3 PUFAs-enriched diets in reducing the inflammatory response.

Role of a prudent breakfast in improving cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

It is unclear whether advising a prudent breakfast alone is sufficient to improve blood lipids and cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight hypercholesterolemic subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a prudent low-fat breakfast (PB) rich in dietary fiber lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with elevated LDL-cholesterol levels.

METHODS

In a parallel, controlled, 12-week study, 79 healthy overweight subjects (all regular breakfast eaters) were randomly allocated to a group that received a PB based on Nordic foods provided ad libitum or a control group that consumed their usual breakfast. The primary outcome was plasma LDL-C. Secondary outcomes were other blood lipids, body weight, sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and inflammation markers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 [TNF-R2]), and blood pressure. The PB was in accordance with national and Nordic nutrition recommendations and included oat bran porridge with low-fat milk or yogurt, bilberry or lingonberry jam, whole grain bread, low-fat spread, poultry or fatty fish, and fruit.

RESULTS

No differences were found in LDL-C, other blood lipids, body weight, or glucose metabolism, but SAD, plasma CRP, and TNF-R2 decreased more during PB compared with controls (p < 0.05). In the overall diet, PB increased dietary fiber and β-glucan compared with controls (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Advising a prudent breakfast for 3 months did not influence blood lipids, body weight, or glucose metabolism but reduced markers of visceral fat and inflammation. The trial was registered in the Current Controlled Trials database (http://www.controlled-trials.com); International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 84550872.

Toll-like receptor, lipotoxicity and chronic inflammation: the pathological link between obesity and cardiometabolic disease

The epidemic growth in the prevalence of obesity has made the impact of metabolic syndrome on cardiovascular events increasingly significant. Elevated visceral adiposity, the indispensable component of metabolic syndrome, is thought to play a primary role in the increasing incidence of cardiometabolic disorders. Importantly, obesity is not merely the simple expansion of adipose tissue mass; it also involves the activation of inflammatory processes within visceral adipose tissue. Adipose tissue inflammation on the one hand enhances the production of proinflammatory adipokines and on the other hand increases the release of free fatty acids via the activation of lipolysis. The adipokines and free fatty acids secreted from visceral fat then contribute to a cardiometabolic pathology. We herein summarize recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms by which visceral obesity leads to the activation of inflammation in cardiovascular and metabolic tissues and promotes cardiometabolic disease. Our focus is on Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and free fatty acids as mediators of chronic inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.

The emerging role of nutrition in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in ageing individuals. It is now clear that genetic susceptibility and environmental factors play a role in disease etiology and progression. Because environmental factors are involved with the majority of the cases of PD, it is important to understand the role nutrition plays in both neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. Recent epidemiological studies have revealed the promise of some nutrients in reducing the risk of PD. In contrast, other nutrients may be involved with the etiology of neurodegeneration or exacerbate disease progression. This review summarizes the studies that have addressed these issues and describes in detail the nutrients and their putative mechanisms of action in PD.