The effect of marine oil-derived n-3 fatty acids on transepithelial calcium transport in Caco-2 cell models of healthy and inflamed intestines

Running exercise with and without calcium supplementation from tuna bone reduced bone impairment caused by low calcium intake in young adult rats

Inadequate calcium intake during childhood and adolescence is detrimental to bone metabolism. Here, we postulated that calcium supplement prepared from tuna bone with tuna head oil should benefit for skeletal development than CaCO₃. Forty female 4-week-old rats were divided into calcium-replete diet (0.55% w/w, S1, n = 8) and low-calcium groups (0.15% w/w for 2 weeks; L; n = 32). Then L were subdivided into 4 groups (8/group), i.e., remained on L, L + tuna bone (S2), S2 + tuna head oil + 25(OH)D₃ and S2 + 25(OH)D₃. Bone specimens were collected at week 9. We found that 2 weeks on low calcium diet led to low bone mineral density (BMD), reduced mineral content, and impaired mechanical properties in young growing rats. Intestinal fractional calcium absorption also increased, presumably resulting from higher plasma 1,25(OH)₂D₃ (1.712 ± 0.158 in L vs. 1.214 ± 0.105 nM in S1, P < 0.05). Four-week calcium supplementation from tuna bone further increased calcium absorption efficacy, which later returned to the basal level by week 9. Calcium supplementation successfully restored BMD, bone strength and microstructure. However, 25(OH)D₃ + tuna head oil + tuna bone showed no additive effect. Voluntary running also effectively prevented bone defects. In conclusion, both tuna bone calcium supplementation and exercise are effective interventions for mitigating calcium-deficient bone loss.

The Effect of Caloric Restriction with and without n-3 PUFA Supplementation on Bone Turnover Markers in Blood of Subjects with Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Weight loss contributes to an increased risk of hip fracture, especially in postmenopausal women. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation could diminish the adverse effect of weight loss on bone health. The aim of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel trial was to investigate the effect of caloric restriction and n-3 PUFA supplement intake on osteogenic markers (carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC); procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (PINP)), as well as a bone resorption marker (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I)) in a serum of 64 middle aged individuals (BMI 25-40 kg/m²) with abdominal obesity. Bone remodeling, metabolic and inflammatory parameters and adipokines were determined before and after 3 months of an isocaloric diet (2300-2400 kcal/day) or a low-calorie diet (1200 kcal/day for women and 1500 kcal/day for men) along with n-3 PUFA (1.8 g/day) or placebo capsules. CTX-I and adiponectin concentrations were increased following 7% weight loss independently of supplement use. Changes in CTX-I were positively associated with changes in adiponectin level (rho = 0.25, p = 0.043). Thus, an increase in serum adiponectin caused by body weight loss could adversely affect bone health. N-3 PUFAs were without effect.

Dietary interventions for better management of osteoporosis: An overview

Osteoporosis is a public health concern and a cause of bone loss, increased risk of skeletal fracture, and a heavy economic burden. It is common in postmenopausal women and the elderly and is impacted by dietary factors, lifestyle and some secondary factors. Although many drugs are available for the treatment of osteoporosis, these therapies are accompanied by subsequent side effects. Hence, dietary interventions are highly important to prevent osteoporosis. This review was aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of dietary nutrients derived from natural foods and of common dietary patterns in the regulation of osteoporosis. Nutrients from daily diets, such as unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, minerals, peptides, phytoestrogens, and prebiotics, can regulate bone metabolism and reverse bone loss. Meanwhile, these nutrients generally existed in food groups and certain dietary patterns also play critical roles in skeletal health. Appropriate dietary interventions (nutrients and dietary patterns) could be primary and effective strategies to prevent and treat osteoporosis across the lifespan for the consumers and food enterprises.

Effect of Phospholipase A1 and High-Pressure Homogenization on the Stability, Toxicity, and Permeability of Egg Yolk/Fish Oil Emulsions

Enzymatic treatment of egg yolk with phospholipases can enhance its emulsifying properties and thermal stability. Additionally, a two-step process (primary and secondary homogenization) could form emulsions with better stability. Thus, in this study we used a split-split-plot in time design to assess the effect of enzymatic treatment, processing, and storage conditions on the encapsulation efficiency, stability, toxicity, and permeability of egg yolk/fish oil emulsions stored up to 10 days at 45 °C. Egg yolk solutions before and after treatment with phospholipase A₁ were used as carriers of fish oil containing ≥82% eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. Emulsions were formed by primary (24,000 rpm, 4 min) and secondary (200 MPa) homogenization. The combined effect of treatment with phospholipase A₁ and secondary homogenization resulted in emulsions with improved stability, increased the encapsulation efficiency of the carriers, and reduced the release of oil to the particle surface, resulting in lower formation of oxidation products. At the end of storage time, none of the emulsions were toxic to Caco-2 cells at a concentration of 75 μg/mL medium, while nonencapsulated fish oil reduced cell viability to 81%. Only eicosapentaenoic acid was detected in the basolateral side of Caco-2:HT29 monolayers, and its apparent permeability from nonencapsulated fish oil was significantly lower than that from emulsions.

Pros and cons of fatty acids in bone biology

Despite the growing interest in deciphering the causes and consequences of obesity-related disorders, the mechanisms linking fat intake to bone behaviour remain unclear. Since bone fractures are widely associated with increased morbidity and mortality, most notably in elderly and obese people, bone health has become a major social and economic issue. Consistently, public health system guidelines have encouraged low-fat diets in order to reduce associated complications. However, from a bone point of view, mechanisms linking fat intake to bone alteration remain quite controversial. Thus, after more than a decade of dedicated studies, this timely review offers a comprehensive overview of the relationships between bone and fatty acids. Using clinical evidences as a starting-point to more complex molecular elucidation, this work highlights the complexity of the system and reveals that bone alteration that cannot be solved simply by taking ω-3 pills. Fatty acid effects on bone metabolism can be both direct and indirect and require integrated investigations. Furthermore, even at the level of a single cell, one fatty acid is able to trigger several different independent pathways (receptors, metabolites…) which may all have a say in the final cellular metabolic response.

The effect of n-3 fatty acids on bone biomarkers in Iranian postmenopausal osteoporotic women: a randomized clinical trial

Recently, n-3 fatty acids are in the center of attention for their potent anti-inflammatory effects. Osteoporosis as a chronic senile disease is associated with inflammation, and the role of inflammatory mediators has been demonstrated in recent years. The beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids on bone were proven in many animal studies, while to date, no conclusive data is available in human. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of n-3 fatty acids on bone biomarkers in osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Twenty-five osteoporotic postmenopausal women were recruited in the study and randomized in treatment and control groups. The patients received 900 mg n-3 fatty acid capsules or placebo per day for 6 months. Serum levels of osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), calcium, vitamin D, and parathormone and urine concentration of pyridinoline (Pyd) were measured at baseline, second month, and sixth month in both groups. In the treatment group, compared with baseline, at the second month, osteocalcin increased slightly; thereafter, it showed decrement trend until the end of the study. In the control group, it decreased all over the study. None of these changes was significant. BALP showed nonsignificant decrease from baseline over the time in both groups. Urine level of Pyd decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the treatment group, while no significant change was seen in the control group. Serum calcium and vitamin D increased in both groups; however, changes were not significant. No significant changes were seen in calcium clearance and parathormone. In conclusion, n-3 fatty acids can decrease bone resorption; however, it could not affect bone formation significantly after 6 months treatment. Further investigations are recommended.

Nutritional modulation of antitumor efficacy and diarrhea toxicity related to irinotecan chemotherapy in rats bearing the ward colon tumor

PURPOSE

To evaluate and compare the influence of dietary elements on cancer progression, chemotherapy efficacy, and toxicity, particularly severe, late-onset diarrhea related to irinotecan (CPT-11) treatment.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We used laboratory rats fed a standardized basal diet, Ward colon tumor, and CPT-11 therapy for the study of CPT-11-induced diarrhea. Dietary interventions were selected from nutrients already established to modify other forms of colitis and which have been hypothesized to mitigate chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal injury (glutamine, n-3 fatty acids, prebiotic oligosaccharides). Animals adapted to test diets were treated with CPT-11 at the maximum tolerated dose (125 mg/kg x 3 days) and diarrhea was followed continuously for 1 week.

RESULTS

The inclusion of n-3 fatty acids in the diet (5%, w/w of total fat) suppressed tumor growth and enhanced CPT-11's efficacy; this treatment did not affect the incidence or severity of diarrhea. By contrast, oral glutamine bolus (0.75 g/kg) administered prior to each CPT-11 treatment reduced the incidence of severe diarrhea (34.1 +/- 4.7% versus 53.8 +/- 4.2%, P < 0.005) and decreased the area under the curve of diarrhea score (16.5 +/- 1.0 versus 18.8 +/- 0.5, P < 0.05). Identical results were obtained with i.v. bolus glutamine administration. Glutamine treatment did not alter CPT-11's antitumor efficacy. The addition of prebiotic oligosaccharides to the diet (8%, w/w of diet) did not mitigate the severity of diarrhea, and it raised the activity of beta-glucuronidase in cecal contents, a key bacterial enzyme mediating CPT-11-related intestinal toxicity.

CONCLUSION

Our experiments suggest that glutamine and n-3 fatty acids might be potentially useful adjuncts to CPT-11 treatment.

Influence of moderate energy restriction and seafood consumption on bone turnover in overweight young adults

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity are increasing in young adults. However, moderate energy restriction aimed at lowering body weight may promote bone turnover and bone loss. Inclusion of fish or fish oils in a weight-loss diet may attenuate these adverse skeletal effects.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the effects of incorporating fish or fish oil into an energy-restricted diet on bone turnover markers in young overweight adults.

DESIGN

While following a strict hypoenergetic (-30% relative to estimated requirements) diet for 8 wk, 276 overweight men and women [body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 27.5-32.5; age: 20-40 y) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary groups: sunflower-oil capsules (3 g/d; control), cod (3 x 150 g/wk), salmon (3 x 150 g/wk), and fish-oil capsules (3 g/d). Body weight, bone biomarkers, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured at baseline and endpoint. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance and general linear models.

RESULTS

The mean (+/-SD) weight loss was 5.14 +/- 3.0 kg (5.8% +/- 3.2% body weight) during the 8 wk in the 4 dietary groups combined. Urinary N-telopeptides of type I collagen and serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen increased (P < 0.05), whereas serum osteocalcin (but not bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) decreased (P < 0.05) from baseline to endpoint. Increased fish or fish-oil consumption had no effect (P > 0.1) on the changes in bone markers induced by weight loss. In contrast, increased salmon consumption increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

A nutritionally adequate but energy-restricted diet, with different contents of n-3 fatty acids, which resulted in modest weight loss, unfavorably altered bone turnover markers in young overweight adults. Such changes were not prevented by increased fish or fish-oil consumption.