Maternal supplementation with dietary arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids during lactation elevates bone mass in weanling rat and guinea pig offspring even if born small sized

Female rats consuming an iron and omega-3 fatty acid deficient diet preconception require combined iron and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for the prevention of bone impairments in offspring

We previously showed in rats that pre- and postnatal deficiencies in iron and omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids can impair bone development, with additive and potentially irreversible effects when combined. This study aimed to investigate, in female rats consuming a combined iron and n-3 fatty acid deficient (ID + n-3 FAD) diet preconception, whether supplementation with iron and docosahexaenoic/eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA), alone and in combination, can prevent bone impairments in offspring. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, female Wistar rats consuming an ID + n-3 FAD diet preconception were randomised to receive an: 1) iron supplemented (Fe + n-3 FAD), 2) DHA/EPA supplemented (ID + DHA/EPA), 3) Fe + DHA/EPA, or 4) ID + n-3 FAD diet from gestational day 10 throughout pregnancy and lactation. Post-weaning, offspring (n = 24/group; male:female = 1:1) remained on the respective experimental diets for three weeks until postnatal day 42-45. Offspring born to female rats consuming a control diet preconception and an Fe+DHA/EPA diet throughout pregnancy and lactation served as non-deficient reference group (Control+Fe+DHA/EPA). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bone strength using three-point bending tests. Only offspring in the Fe+DHA/EPA group had significantly higher spine and femur BMD, and higher femur stiffness than offspring in the ID + n-3 FAD group, and had similar spine BMD and femur stiffness as the Control + Fe + DHA/EPA group. Offspring in the Fe + DHA/EPA group further had significantly higher femur strength (ultimate load) than the other experimental groups, and a similar femur strength as the Control + Fe + DHA/EPA group. This study shows that only combined iron and DHA/EPA supplementation can prevent bone impairments in offspring of female rats consuming an iron and n-3 FA deficient diet preconception.

Bioactives and their roles in bone metabolism of osteoarthritis: evidence and mechanisms on gut-bone axis

Bioactives significantly modify and maintain human health. Available data suggest that Bioactives might play a beneficial role in chronic inflammatory diseases. Although promised, defining their mechanisms and opting to weigh their benefits and limitations is imperative. Detailed mechanisms by which critical Bioactives, including probiotics and prebiotics such as dietary lipids (DHA, EPA, alpha LA), vitamin D, polysaccharides (fructooligosaccharide), polyphenols (curcumin, resveratrol, and capsaicin) potentially modulate inflammation and bone metabolism is limited. Certain dietary bioactive significantly impact the gut microbiota, immune system, and pain response via the gut-immune-bone axis. This narrative review highlights a recent update on mechanistic evidence that bioactive is demonstrated demonstrated to reduce osteoarthritis pathophysiology.

Effects and Reversibility of Pre- and Post-natal Iron and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency, Alone and in Combination, on Bone Development in Rats

Both iron and omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids may play an important role in bone development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pre- and post-natal iron and n-3 fatty acid deficiency (FAD), alone and in combination, on bone development in rats, and to determine whether effects are reversible when a sufficient diet is provided post-weaning. Using a 2×2-factorial design, 56 female Wistar rats were allocated to one of four diets: (1) control, (2) iron deficient (ID), (3) n-3 FAD or (4) ID and n-3 FAD, and were maintained on the respective diets throughout gestation and lactation. At weaning (post-natal day [PND] 21), offspring (n = 24/group; male:female=1:1) were randomly allocated to either continue with their respective diets or to switch to the control diet until PND 42-45. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength were determined using dual X-ray absorptiometry and three-point bending tests, respectively. Pre- and post-natal ID resulted in significantly lower BMD in the spine and bone strength in the left femur. Both ID and n-3 FAD resulted in lower BMD in the right femur, with an additive reduction in the combined ID and n-3 FAD group vs. controls. While negative effects of pre- and post-natal ID alone were reversed in offspring switched to a control diet post-weaning, lower BMD and bone strength persisted in offspring with combined ID and n-3 FAD during the prenatal and early post-natal period. Effects were not sex-specific. These results indicate that ID during early life may negatively influence bone development, with potential additive effects of n-3 FAD. While the effects of ID alone seem reversible, a combined ID and n-3 FAD may result in irreversible deficits in bone development.

Maternal dietary deficiency of n-3 fatty acids affects metabolic and epigenetic phenotypes of the developing fetus

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play multiple physiological roles. They regulate the structure and function of cell membranes and cell growth and proliferation, and apoptosis. In addition, PUFAs are involved in cellular signaling, gene expression and serve as precursors to second messengers such as eicosanoids, docosanoids etc. and regulate several physiological processes including placentation, inflammation, immunity, angiogenesis, platelet function, synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, bone formation, energy homeostasis, pain sensitivity, stress, and cognitive functions. Linoleic acid, 18:2n-6 (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid, 18:3n-3 (ALA) are the two essential fatty acids obtained from the diets and subsequently their long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are accumulated in the body. The maternal plasma LCPUFAs especially accumulated in larger amounts in the brain during the third trimester of pregnancy via the placenta and postnatally from mother's breast milk. Various studies, including ours, suggest PUFA's important role in placentation, as well as in growth and development of the offspring. However, intakes of maternal n-3 PUFAs during pregnancy and lactation are much lower in India compared with the Western population. In India, n-3 fatty acid status is further reduced by higher intake of n-6 PUFA rich oils and trans fats. More data on the impacts of long term maternal n-3 PUFA deficiency on placental structure and function, gene expression, epigenetic changes and resultant cognitive function of fetus & infants are emerging. This review summarizes the impacts of n-3 PUFA deficiency in utero on fetal growth and development, adiposity, energy metabolism, musculoskeletal development, and epigenetic changes in feto-placental axis from the recently available pre-clinical and clinical data.

Free choice feeding of whole grains in meat-type pigeons: 1. effect on performance, carcass traits and organ development

The effects of 5 different feeding systems on the performance, carcass traits and organ development were studied in pigeon squabs. The 5 treatments were (1) whole grains of maize, pea and wheat plus concentrate feed; (2)whole grains of maize and wheat plus concentrate feed (CWC); (3) whole grains of maize and pea plus concentrate feed; (4)whole grain of maize plus concentrate feed (CC); and (5) compound feed (CF). Feed intake of parent pigeons increased significantly from 0 to 21 d and it was higher in the CF treatment. Body weight of squabs in the CWC treatment was the highest among the 5 treatments in 4 weeks. Body weight losses of parental pigeons during the rearing period were not significantly different among the 5 treatments. Protein intake in CC and CWC treatments was lower than that of the other three treatments. The CWC treatment had the highest daily weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio. Treatments were statistically similar in the relative weight of carcass, breast and thigh. CF had the lower relative weight of abdominal fat. Relative weight of gizzard in the CF treatment was significantly lower than that of CWC. It was concluded that the application of free choice feeding of whole grains of maize and wheat plus concentrate feed increased the body weight of 28-d-old pigeon squabs and decreased the feed conversion rate of parent pigeons. This feeding strategy could be commercially interesting in meat-type pigeon production.

Non-invasive cortisol measurements as indicators of physiological stress responses in guinea pigs

Non-invasive measurements of glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations, including cortisol and corticosterone, serve as reliable indicators of adrenocortical activities and physiological stress loads in a variety of species. As an alternative to invasive analyses based on plasma, GC concentrations in saliva still represent single-point-of-time measurements, suitable for studying short-term or acute stress responses, whereas fecal GC metabolites (FGMs) reflect overall stress loads and stress responses after a species-specific time frame in the long-term. In our study species, the domestic guinea pig, GC measurements are commonly used to indicate stress responses to different environmental conditions, but the biological relevance of non-invasive measurements is widely unknown. We therefore established an experimental protocol based on the animals' natural stress responses to different environmental conditions and compared GC levels in plasma, saliva, and fecal samples during non-stressful social isolations and stressful two-hour social confrontations with unfamiliar individuals. Plasma and saliva cortisol concentrations were significantly increased directly after the social confrontations, and plasma and saliva cortisol levels were strongly correlated. This demonstrates a high biological relevance of GC measurements in saliva. FGM levels measured 20 h afterwards, representing the reported mean gut passage time based on physiological validations, revealed that the overall stress load was not affected by the confrontations, but also no relations to plasma cortisol levels were detected. We therefore measured FGMs in two-hour intervals for 24 h after another social confrontation and detected significantly increased levels after four to twelve hours, reaching peak concentrations already after six hours. Our findings confirm that non-invasive GC measurements in guinea pigs are highly biologically relevant in indicating physiological stress responses compared to circulating levels in plasma in the short- and long-term. Our approach also underlines the importance of detailed investigations on how to use and interpret non-invasive measurements, including the determination of appropriate time points for sample collections.

Dietary supplementation with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnant guinea pigs has sex-dependent effects on growth and bone outcomes in offspring

Long chain PUFA enhance bone mass in non-pregnant mammals. We examined the effects of arachidonic (AA; 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n-3) acid on bone mass of mothers and neonates. Guinea pig sows (n=15) were fed control, DHA or AA+DHA diets from mating to weaning. Measurements included: osteocalcin (OC), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in sows and neonates; and volumetric density (vBMD) in neonates. Only vertebral aBMD and OC:DPD ratio declined during reproduction and only DHA reduced OC:DPD. Male pup weight was reduced by DHA and female weight elevated by AA+DHA. Whole body and femur aBMD were reduced by DHA and AA+DHA; whereas tibia vBMD was reduced by DHA in males. Female whole body, tibia and vertebrae aBMD plus tibia vBMD were elevated by AA+DHA; and DHA elevated whole body, tibia and vertebrae aBMD. Dietary AA+DHA and DHA elicit sex-dependent effects on neonatal bone, with minimal impact on mothers.