ω-3 fatty acid differentially modulated serum levels of IGF1 and IGFBP3 in men with CVD: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study

Effects of maternal supplementation of fish oil during late gestation and lactation on growth performance, fecal microbiota structure and post-weaning diarrhoea of offspring piglets

Homeostasis of gut microbiota is a critical contributor to growth and health in weaned piglets. Fish oil is widely reported to benefit health of mammals including preventing intestinal dysfunction, yet its protective effect during suckling-to-weaning transition in piglets remains undetermined. Low (30 g/d) and high (60 g/d) doses of n-3-rich fish oil were supplemented in sows from late gestation to lactation. Serum indicators and gut microbiota were determined to evaluate the effects of maternal fish oil on growth performance, immunity and diarrhea of piglets. DHA and EPA in the colostrum as well as serum of suckling and 1-week post-wean piglets were significantly and linearly increased by maternal supplementation of fish oil (P < 0.05). IGF1 and T3 in nursing and weaned piglets were significantly elevated by maternal fish oil (P < 0.05), and the increase of IGF1 was concerning the dosage of fish oil. Colostrum IgG, plasma IgG, IgM in suckling piglets, IgG, IgM and IgA in weaned piglets were significantly increase as maternal replenishment of fish oil increased (P < 0.05). Additionally, cortisol was significantly reduced in weaned pigs (P < 0.05), regardless of dosage. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that α-diversity of fecal microbiota in nursery piglets, and fecal Lactobacillus genus, positively correlated with post-weaning IgA, was significantly increased by high dosage. Collectively, maternal fish oil during late pregnancy and lactation significantly promoted growth, enhanced immunity, and reduced post-weaning diarrhea in piglets, therefore facilitated suckling-to-weaning transition in piglets, which may be partially due to the altered gut microbial community.

New Perspectives on the Associations between Blood Fatty Acids, Growth Parameters, and Cognitive Development in Global Child Populations

Malnutrition is prevalent in low-middle-income countries (LMICs), but it is usually clinically diagnosed through abnormal anthropometric parameters characteristic of protein energy malnutrition (PEM). In doing so, other contributors or byproducts of malnutrition, notably essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD), are overlooked. Previous research performed mainly in high-income countries (HICs) shows that deficiencies in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) byproducts (also known as highly unsaturated fatty acids or HUFAs) lead to both abnormal linear growth and impaired cognitive development. These adverse developmental outcomes remain an important public health issue in LMICs. To identify EFAD before severe malnutrition develops, clinicians should perform blood fatty acid panels to measure levels of fatty acids associated with EFAD, notably Mead acid and HUFAs. This review demonstrates the importance of measuring endogenous fatty acid levels for measuring fatty acid intake in various child populations in LMICs. Featured topics include a comparison of fatty acid levels between global child populations, the relationships between growth and cognition and PUFAs and the possible mechanisms driving these relationships, and the potential importance of EFAD and HUFA scores as biomarkers of overall health and normal development.

Maternal omega-3 fatty acid deficiency affects fetal thermogenic development and postnatal musculoskeletal growth in mice

Maternal omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) deficiency can affect offspring's adiposity and metabolism by modulating lipid and glucose metabolism. However, the impact of n-3 PUFA deficiency on the development of fetal thermogenesis and its consequences is not reported. Using an n-3 PUFA deficient mice, we assessed fetal interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT), body fat composition, insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), glucose transporters (GLUTs), and expression of lipid storage & metabolic proteins in the offspring. The n-3 PUFA deficiency did not change the pups' calorie intake, organ weight, and body weight. However, the offspring's skeletal growth was altered due to excess fat to lean mass, reduced tibia & femur elongation, dysregulated IGF-1 in the mother and pups (P< .05). Localization of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in iBAT exhibited a reduced expression in the deficient fetus. Further, UCP1, GLUT1, GPR120 were downregulated while FABP3, ADRP, GLUT4 expressions were upregulated in the BAT of the deficient offspring (P< .05). The deficiency decreased endogenous conversion of the n-3 LCPUFAs from their precursors and upregulated SCD1, FASN, and MFSD2A mRNAs in the liver (P< .05). An altered musculoskeletal growth in the offspring is associated with impaired browning of the fetal adipose, dysregulated thermogenesis, growth hormone, and expression of glucose and fatty acid metabolic mediators due to maternal n-3 PUFA deficiency. BAT had higher metabolic sensitivity compared to WAT in n-3 PUFA deficiency. Maternal n-3 PUFA intake may prevent excess adiposity by modulating fetal development of thermogenesis and skeletal growth dynamics in the mice offspring.

Er-Xian decoction attenuates ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by modulating fatty acid metabolism and IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Er-Xian decoction (EXD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat osteoporosis (OP). However, the anti-OP mechanism of EXD has not yet been fully elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to verify the anti-OP effect of EXD and to explore its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

The anti-OP targets and mechanisms of EXD were predicted by network pharmacological analysis. Then, an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model was established to validate the key anti-OP mechanism of EXD. Firstly, the therapeutic effect of EXD on OP was confirmed using micro-CT bone analysis, pathological observation, and ELISA detection. Secondly, serum metabolites related to key biological processes were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer and GC-MS. Finally, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot were utilized to further explore the potential key anti-OP pathway of EXD.

RESULTS

A total of 159 anti-OP targets of EXD were identified. Functional annotation revealed that OP treatment using EXD was associated with lipid metabolism, fatty acid (FA) metabolism, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Experimental studies confirmed that EXD ameliorated ovariectomy-induced bone loss and bone microstructure deterioration. EXD treatment also upregulated the level of serum estrogen and downregulated the level of OC, PⅠNP, CTX-1, TC, and LDL-C. Besides, principal component analysis (PCA) and heat map of serum FAs distinguished OVX rats from the SHAM and EXD groups. Serum concentrations of important n-3 FAs, including C20:3N3, C20:5N3, and C22:5N3, were significantly increased in the EXD group. The increased stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) index 1 and index 2 in the OVX group were reversed by EXD administration. Additionally, EXD reversed the decreased serum IGF1 level and tibia IGF1R, PI3K, and AKT expression in OVX rats.

CONCLUSION

EXD ameliorated ovariectomy-induced bone loss by modulating lipid metabolism, FA metabolism, and IGF1/PI3K/AKT pathway.

The Impacts of Fish Oil and/or Probiotic Intervention on Low-Grade Inflammation, IGFBP-1 and MMP-8 in Pregnancy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Background: We investigated the impact of fish oil and/or probiotics on serum and vaginal inflammatory and metabolic proteins and their relation to the onset of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Overweight/obese pregnant women received fish oil + placebo, probiotics + placebo, fish oil + probiotics or placebo + placebo from early pregnancy until six months postpartum (fish oil: 1.9 g docosahexaenoic acid and 0.22 g eicosapentaenoic acid; probiotics: Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420, 10¹⁰ colony-forming units each). Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and serum/vaginal (s/v) phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor binding-protein-1 (phIGFBP-1), IGFBP-1 and matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) were analyzed. GDM was diagnosed according to 2 h 75 g OGTT. Results: The intervention had no impact on the change in proteins during pregnancy. Nevertheless, s-MMP-8 decreased and s-IGFBP-1 increased more in obese than in overweight women in the fish oil + probiotics group, while a decrease in s-MMP-8 was seen in obese women and an increase was seen in overweight women in the probiotics + placebo group. The late pregnancy s-phIGFBP-1 was higher in women who developed GDM in fish oil + probiotics-group compared to fish oil + placebo-group. The concentrations of s-phIGFBP-1 (635.9 ± 315.3 ng/mL vs. 753.2 ± 335.1 ng/mL, p = 0.005) and s-IGFBP-1 (3.78 ± 0.72 ng/mL vs. 3.96 ± 0.69 ng/mL, p = 0.042) were lower in early pregnancy in women who developed GDM than in women remaining healthy. Conclusions: The intervention per se had no impact on the proteins, but obesity and GDM may modify the effect. IGFBPs may affect the development of GDM.

RT, Copland C, Giaquinto A, Juliano RA, Bhatt DL. Mineral oil: safety and use as placebo in REDUCE-IT and other clinical studies

Mineral oil is often used as a clinical trial placebo. Pharmaceutical-grade mineral oil consists of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons, with a purity and chemical structure that differs substantially from food-grade or technical-/industrial-grade mineral oils. Interest in mineral oil was piqued by suggestions that a portion of the substantially positive results of the Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial (REDUCE-IT) might be attributable to the theoretical negative effects of mineral oil rather than being due to the clinical benefits of icosapent ethyl. The objective of this review was to explore possible mineral oil safety and efficacy effects and contextualize these findings in light of the REDUCE-IT conclusions. A literature search identified studies employing mineral oil placebos. Eighty studies were identified and relevant data extracted. Adverse events associated with mineral oil were generally gastrointestinal and consistent with use as a lubricant laxative. Changes in triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and other biomarkers were inconsistent and generally not statistically significant, or clinically meaningful with mineral oil, as were changes in blood pressure. There was no consistent evidence that mineral oil in the amounts used in the REDUCE-IT or Effect of Vascepa on Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients With Elevated Triglycerides on Statin Therapy (EVAPORATE) trials affects absorption of essential nutrients or drugs, including statins. These results were then considered alongside publicly available data from REDUCE-IT. Based on available evidence, mineral oil does not appear to impact medication absorption or efficacy, or related clinical outcomes, and, therefore, does not meaningfully affect study conclusions when used as a placebo at the quantities used in clinical trials.

Co-Enzyme Q10 and n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation Reverse Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Growth Restriction and Improved Antioxidant Profiles in Neonatal Rats

Neonatal intermittent hypoxia (IH) increases the risk for many morbidities in extremely low birth weight/gestational age (ELBW/ELGA) neonates with compromised antioxidant systems and poor growth. We hypothesized that supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, ubiquinol) or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during neonatal IH improves antioxidant profiles and somatic growth in neonatal rats. Newborn rats were exposed to two IH paradigms at birth (P0): (1) 50% O₂ with brief hypoxic episodes (12% O₂); or (2) room air (RA) with brief hypoxia, until P14 during which they received daily oral CoQ10 in olive oil, n-3 PUFAs in fish oil, or olive oil only from P0 to P14. Pups were studied at P14 or placed in RA until P21 for recovery from IH (IHR). Body weight and length; organ weights; and serum antioxidants and growth factors were determined at P14 and P21. Neonatal IH resulted in sustained reductions in somatic growth, an effect that was reversed with n-3 PUFAs. Improved growth was associated with higher serum growth factors. CoQ10 decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione, but increased catalase, suggesting reduced oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to determine the synergistic effects of CoQ10 and n-3 PUFA co-administration for the prevention of IH-induced oxidative stress and postnatal growth deficits.

Hepatic JAK2 protects against atherosclerosis through circulating IGF-1

Atherosclerosis is considered both a metabolic and inflammatory disease; however, the specific tissue and signaling molecules that instigate and propagate this disease remain unclear. The liver is a central site of inflammation and lipid metabolism that is critical for atherosclerosis, and JAK2 is a key mediator of inflammation and, more recently, of hepatic lipid metabolism. However, precise effects of hepatic Jak2 on atherosclerosis remain unknown. We show here that hepatic Jak2 deficiency in atherosclerosis-prone mouse models exhibited accelerated atherosclerosis with increased plaque macrophages and decreased plaque smooth muscle cell content. JAK2's essential role in growth hormone signalling in liver that resulted in reduced IGF-1 with hepatic Jak2 deficiency played a causal role in exacerbating atherosclerosis. As such, restoring IGF-1 either pharmacologically or genetically attenuated atherosclerotic burden. Together, our data show hepatic Jak2 to play a protective role in atherogenesis through actions mediated by circulating IGF-1 and, to our knowledge, provide a novel liver-centric mechanism in atheroprotection.

Omega 3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease risk factors: An updated systematic review of randomised clinical trials

Several studies and reviews regarding the supplementation of omega-3 LC-PUFAs have been developed during the last years. Indeed, the evidence states that high doses omega-3 LC-PUFAs produce a small but significant decrease in blood pressure in older and hypertensive subjects. Due to the increasing interest in the benefits of LC-PUFAs, we aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence provided in the past five years (2012-2016) on the effects of the intake of omega-3 LC-PUFAs on cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and oxidative stress, through a systematic review in PubMed database. Twenty-eight articles were related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and are included in this systematic review. The studies included healthy subjects and CVD patients; we included the number of subjects, type of study, type and doses of omega-3 LC-PUFAs, primary outcomes, and results. The use of omega-3 LC-PUFAs for ameliorating CVD risk factors can be recommended. However, the administration of omega-3 does not seem to show any benefit for the management of CVD or associated complications.

Performance of Debaryomyces hansenii as a Diet for Rotifers for Feeding Zebrafish Larvae

The zebrafish larval stage is a critical moment due to high mortality rates associated with inadequate supplies of nutritional requirements. Larval feeding has important challenges associated with such factors as small mouth gape (≈100 μm), the low activity of digestive enzymes, and the intake of live food. A common zebrafish live food at the onset of exogenous feeding is rotifers, mainly Brachionus plicatilis. These rotifers should be fed with other microorganisms such as microalgae or yeast, mostly from the Saccharomyces genus. In the laboratory, the culture of microalgae is more expensive than the culture of yeast. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Debaryomyces hansenii as a diet for rotifers in comparison to a microalgae-based diet (Rotigrow^®). To achieve this aim, we assessed the rotifer total protein content, the rotifers fatty acid profile, zebrafish larval growth performance, the expression of key growth, and endocrine appetite regulation genes. The total protein and fatty acids content were similar in both rotifer cultures, averaging 35% of dry matter (DM) and 18% of DM, respectively. Interestingly, the fatty acids profile showed differences between the two rotifer cultures: omega-3 fatty acids were only observed in the Microalgae/rotifer, whereas, omega-6 fatty acids presented similar levels in both rotifer cultures. No differences were observed in the larval body length distribution or mortalities between the rotifer cultures. However, gh, igf-1, and cck gene expression showed significantly higher upregulation in zebrafish fed the Microalgae/rotifer diet compared with those fed the Debaryomyces/rotifer diet. In conclusion, D. hansenii could be an alternative diet for rotifer used as a live food in zebrafish larvae at the onset of exogenous feeding. The gene responses observed in this work open up the opportunity to study the effect of omega-3 supply on growth regulation in zebrafish.

Fish oil supplementation from 9 to 18 months of age affects the insulin-like growth factor axis in a sex-specific manner in Danish infants

Several studies have investigated the effects of fish oil (FO) on infant growth, but little is known about the effects of FO and sex on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), the main regulator of growth in childhood. We explored whether FO v. sunflower oil (SO) supplementation from 9 to 18 months of age affected IGF-1 and its binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and whether the potential effects were sex specific. Danish infants (n 115) were randomly allocated to 5 ml/d FO (1·2 g/d n-3 long-chain PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA)) or SO. We measured growth, IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and erythrocyte EPA, a biomarker of n-3 LCPUFA intake and status, at 9 and 18 months. Erythrocyte EPA increased strongly with FO compared with SO (P<0·001). There were no effects of FO compared with SO on IGF-1 in the total population, but a sex×group interaction (P=0·02). Baseline-adjusted IGF-1 at 18 months was 11·1 µg/l (95 % CI 0·4, 21·8; P=0·04) higher after FO compared with SO supplementation among boys only. The sex×group interaction was borderline significant in the model of IGFBP-3 (P=0·09), with lower IGFBP-3 with FO compared with SO among girls only (P=0·03). The results were supported by sex-specific dose–response associations between changes in erythrocyte EPA and changes in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 (both P<0·03). Moreover, IGF-1 was sex specifically associated with BMI and length. In conclusion, FO compared with SO resulted in higher IGF-1 among boys and lower IGFBP-3 among girls. The potential long-term implications for growth and body composition should be investigated further.