Consumption of fish oil supplement alters erythrocyte fatty acid composition in overweight, hypercholesterolemic, middle-aged Serbians

Effect of age and dietary habits on Red Blood Cell membrane fatty acids in a Southern Europe population (Basque Country)

The levels of blood eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are very variable and, in general, low in most of the world population. In this study, the effects of age, sex, COVID-19, and dietary habits on the lipid profile of the erythrocyte membranes were assessed in a sub-cohort of healthy population (N = 203) from a large cohort of individuals from the Basque Country, Spain, (AKRIBEA). Sex did not have an effect on RBC lipid profile. COVID-19 infected participants showed higher levels of DGLA. Oldest participants showed higher oleic acid, EPA and DHA levels. Arachidonic acid in RBC correlated positively with the intake of sunflower oil, butter, eggs, processed and red meat, whereas DHA and EPA correlated positively with oily and lean fish. Basque Country population showed lipid profiles similar to other high fish consuming countries, such as Italy and Japan. Baseline levels of the whole lipidomic profile of the RBC including SFA, MUFA and PUFA should be examined to obtain a better description of the health and nutritional status.

Lipid profile and health benefit of commonly consumed fresh water and sea water fish species in the population of Serbia

Background/Aim. Dietary intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) is important in prevention and treatment of different diseases. In general population, the average intake of n-3 LC-PUFA is often significantly lower than recommended levels. Fish lipids are rich sources of these fatty acids, of which the most important are eicosapentaenoic (20:5 n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic (22:6 n-3, DHA) fatty acids. This study was designed to determine and compare fat, fatty acids and lipid quality indices in 10 commercial fish species available on the Serbian market, as well as relation between their price and nutritional value. Methods. Freshwater fish originated from the Danube River in the Belgrade Region, while seawater fish were mostly from the Adriatic Sea. A gas chromatography method was used to define fatty acids in 40 fish samples after lipid extraction. Cost-minimization analysis was conducted to assess the economic utility. Results. Seawater fish had a significantly higher value of flash lipid quality compared to the freshwater fish (p < 0.05). Value of hypercholesterolaemic fatty acids (OFA) for the freshwater group was 18.70 (17.40?21.30) while the seawater group had a similar range of values 18.90 (17.55?22.75). Hypocholesterolaemic fatty acids (DFA) also showed similar ranges for both groups: 68.80 (66?70.20) for freshwater and 68.40 (64.85?73.05) for seawater group. The ratio of DHA/EPA ranged from 1.8 for sardine samples and up to 10 for tuna samples, indicating that the amount of DHA in natural samples exceeds the amount of EPA in many cases. The values of atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic index (TI) were lower than 1 for all analysed samples. Conclusion. Sardine and mackerel had the highest content of n-3 LC-PUFA and presented the least expensive sources of EPA and DHA. The low values of AI and TI obtained from studied fish indicate its benefits from a health point of view.

Silkworm pupae oil exerts hypercholesterolemic and antioxidant effects in high-cholesterol diet-fed rats

BACKGROUND

Silkworm pupae is a good resource of edible oil that is especially rich in unsaturated fatty acids and is considered to be an excellent dietary supplement for hyperlipidemia.

RESULTS

Groups fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) with silkworm pupae oil (SPO) supplementation (1, 2, or 4 mL kg^-1  day^-1 ) orally had significantly lower levels of serum total cholesterol (P < 0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05) compared to the HCD group. With regard to antioxidant parameters, except for levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the liver, 2 and 4 mL kg^-1  day^-1 of SPO supplementation leaded to higher total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05), superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) and GSH-Px levels (P < 0.05), as well as lower malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05), both in serum and liver compared to the HCD group.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study indicate that supplementation with SPO can improve lipid profiles and alleviate oxidative stress in high-cholesterol diet-fed rats. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Global survey of the omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the blood stream of healthy adults

Studies reporting blood levels of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were systematically identified in order to create a global map identifying countries and regions with different blood levels. Included studies were those of healthy adults, published in 1980 or later. A total of 298 studies met all inclusion criteria. Studies reported fatty acids in various blood fractions including plasma total lipids (33%), plasma phospholipid (32%), erythrocytes (32%) and whole blood (3.0%). Fatty acid data from each blood fraction were converted to relative weight percentages (wt.%) and then assigned to one of four discrete ranges (high, moderate, low, very low) corresponding to wt.% EPA+DHA in erythrocyte equivalents. Regions with high EPA+DHA blood levels (>8%) included the Sea of Japan, Scandinavia, and areas with indigenous populations or populations not fully adapted to Westernized food habits. Very low blood levels (≤4%) were observed in North America, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The present review reveals considerable variability in blood levels of EPA+DHA and the very low to low range of blood EPA+DHA for most of the world may increase global risk for chronic disease.

Effect of Nutritionally Relevant Doses of Long-Chain N-3 Pufa on Lipid Status, Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Markers in an Average Middle-Aged Serbian Population

Background

This study investigated the effects of a nutritionally relevant intake of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids derived from oily fish or a fish oil supplement on selected cardiovascular risk factors in average middle-aged individuals.

Methods

Thirty-three participants were randomized to receive salmon (oily fish) providing 274 mg EPA + 671 mg DHA/day or a commercial fish oil supplement providing 396 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA/day in a cross-over trial over an 8-week period separated by a 6-month washout period. Blood samples were collected before and after each intervention and lipids, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were determined.

Results

Plasma levels of EPA, DHA and total n-3 fatty acids significantly increased after both interventions. A decreasing trend in triglycerides was more pronounced with salmon than with the fish oil supplement, but the changes noticed were not significant. Although there were no relevant changes in inflammatory marker concentrations at the end of both interventions, significant negative correlations were noticed between total plasma n-3 fatty acids and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule and C-reactive protein throughout the whole intervention period (p<0.05). Among the oxidative stress parameters, intervention with salmon showed a prooxidative effect through a superoxide anion increase (p=0.025). A relevant positive correlation was also found between its concentration and total plasma n-3 fatty acids (p<0.05). Other oxidative stress markers were not significantly influenced by the dietary interventions applied.

Conclusions

Following two sets of recommendations for n-3 fatty acids intake aimed at the general public had only a moderate effect on the selected cardiovascular risk factors in average healthy middle-aged subjects over a short-term period.

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid dietary recommendations are moderately efficient in optimizing their status in healthy middle-aged subjects with low fish consumption: a cross-over study

Several dietary recommendations have been made for marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake; however, the effectiveness of these fatty acids has not been thoroughly examined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether public-aimed dietary recommendations for long-chain n-3 PUFA from oily fish or fish oil supplements are efficient in optimizing their status in red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets of healthy middle-aged subjects with low customary fish consumption. In a randomized, cross-over trial conducted over an 8-week period and separated by a 6-month washout period, 33 participants received an oily fish (salmon), providing 274 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + 671 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day, or a commercial fish oil supplement, providing 396 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA per day. Blood samples were collected before and after each intervention period, and RBCs and platelets were used for analysis of fatty acids. After 8 weeks, there were significant increases in EPA and DHA content in RBCs and platelets with both salmon and fish oil capsules. The increase in EPA in both RBCs and platelets was higher with capsules, whereas the increase in DHA in both RBCs and platelets was higher with salmon. In spite of the quantitative and qualitative differences between n-3 fatty acid profiles in salmon and the fish oil supplement, the overall incorporation of these fatty acids into RBCs and platelets did not differ in our short-term study (P > .05). The sum of EPA + DHA significantly increased in both compartments following dietary recommendations for oily fish and fish oil supplements intake in middle-aged healthy subjects with low baseline long-chain n-3 PUFA status, although targeted values with optimal cardioprotective effect of more than 8% were not achieved.