Low zinc intake increases apparent oxidation of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids in the pregnant rat

Copper deficiency affects the developmental competence of porcine oocytes matured in vitro

The trace element Cu is required for the activity of various enzymes essential for physiological processes. In this study, we elucidated the copper transport system in porcine follicular cells and investigated the effect of Cu chelation during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Cu chelation was induced by adding tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to the maturation media (TCM199-PVA). First, we identified the localization and relative levels of the copper transporter CTR1 in follicular cells. The level of CTR1 protein was the highest in mature cumulus cells; moreover, CTR1 was mainly localized in the cytoplasmic vesicular compartment in oocytes, whereas it was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm in cumulus cells. A total of 42 h after IVM, the TEPA-treated group showed reduced maturation rates compared to those of the control (p < 0.05). This negative effect of TEPA disappeared when it was added to the media with Cu (Cu + TEPA group). The TEPA treatment during IVM significantly increased the mRNA levels of the Has2 gene, which is related to cumulus expansion (p < 0.05). Both Cu supplementation and chelation significantly increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in porcine oocytes (p < 0.05). When we analyzed the transcript levels of folliculogenesis-related genes in Cu chelation conditions, only the expression of MAPK3 in cumulus cells significantly increased compared to that of the control. We also evaluated the subsequent embryonic development of PA embryos. TEPA-treated oocytes showed significantly decreased blastocyst formation rates compared to those of the control. The TEPA-induced toxic effect was alleviated when Cu was added with TEPA. Our findings suggest that the Cu transport system plays an important role in the porcine follicular development process and that the Cu deficiency negatively affects porcine oocyte maturation, as well as their subsequent developmental competence.

Trace mineral mixture supplemented to in vitro maturation medium improves subsequent embryo development and embryo quality in cattle

Trace minerals participate in reproductive processes and are crucial for oocyte maturation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of combined supplementation with copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) during bovine in vitro maturation (IVM) on subsequent embryo development and quality. The IVM medium was supplemented as follows: a) Control (no mineral supplementation); b) MScz (6 ng/mL Mn + 100 ng/mL Se + 200 ng/mL Cu + 400 ng/mL Zn); c) MScZ (6 ng/mL Mn + 100 ng/mL Se + 200 ng/mL Cu + 1200 ng/mL Zn); d) MSCz (6 ng/mL Mn + 100 ng/mL Se + 600 ng/mL Cu + 400 ng/mL Zn). Supplementation with MScz and MSCz produced more blastocysts compared with the control. Total blastocyst cell number was higher when minerals were added at any combination. Day-8 blastocysts derived from oocytes treated with minerals had lower intracellular reactive oxygen species concentration and lipid content than the control. In conclusion, combined supplementation with Cu, Mn, Se and Zn during bovine oocyte IVM increased in vitro production performance, improving embryo developmental ability and quality.

Effect of complexed trace minerals on cumulus-oocyte complex recovery and in vitro embryo production in beef cattle1,2

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of complexed trace mineral supplementation on ovum pick-up (OPU) and in vitro embryo production in lactating beef cows. Thirty days prior to fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI; day −30), 68 postpartum cows were stratified by BW, BCS, and parity before being randomly assigned to 10 pens of either a treatment (TRT; n = 5) or a control (CNT; n = 5) group. Each group received a weekly mineral supplement allotment of 1.16 kg × week⁻¹ × cow–calf pair⁻¹ for 14 wk. Cows assigned to the TRT group received a mineral supplement that contained amino acid complexes of zinc, copper, and manganese, as well as cobalt glucoheptonate (Availa Plus; Zinpro Corp., Eden Prairie, MN, USA), while cows assigned to the CNT group received a mineral supplement that was formulated to contain similar concentrations of these trace minerals from inorganic sources. All cows were submitted to a 7 d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol on day −10 and bred using FTAI on day 0. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed on day 28 and nonpregnant cows were removed. All pregnant cows were subjected to ovum pick-up (OPU) on day 52 and 67 of gestation. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were evaluated and graded prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Analysis of variance was conducted to determine effects of treatment on response variables, and pen was considered the experimental unit. Supplement consumption did not differ (P = 0.48) between treatments (1.16 ± 0.12 vs. 1.07 ± 0.15 kg of DM × week⁻¹ × cow–calf pair⁻¹ for TRT and CNT, respectively). Total COC recovery was greater (P = 0.03) from TRT when compared with CNT cows (22.4 ± 2.0 vs. 16.4 ± 1.4 COCs × pen⁻¹, respectively) and the number of COCs meeting maturation criteria was increased in TRT cows (P = 0.05) when compared with CNT cows (15.9 ± 1.6 vs. 11.8 ± 1.0 COCs × pen⁻¹, respectively). Production of transferable embryos tended to be greater (P = 0.06) for TRT than CNT cows (4.7 ± 0.6 vs. 2.7 ± 0.7 embryos × pen⁻¹, respectively). Furthermore, when expressed as a ratio, the number of recovered COCs meeting maturation criteria that were required to produce a transferable embryo tended to be lower for TRT than CNT cows (3.10 ± 0.93 vs. 7.02 ± 1.60; P = 0.06). In summary, complete replacement with complexed trace mineral improved COC recovery and in vitro embryo production when compared with inorganic forms of these trace minerals in beef cows.

The effect of a moderate zinc deficiency and dietary fat source on the activity and expression of the Δ(3)Δ (2)-enoyl-CoA isomerase in the liver of growing rats

Auxiliary enzymes participate in β-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of a moderate zinc deficiency and a high intake of polyunsaturated fat on Δ(3)Δ(2)-enoyl-CoA isomerase (ECI) in the liver and other tissues. Five groups of eight weanling rats each were fed moderately zinc-deficient (ZD) or zinc-adequate (ZA) semisynthetic diets (7 or 50 mg Zn/kg) enriched with 22 % cocoa butter (CB) or 22 % safflower oil (SO) for 4 weeks: (1) ZD-CB, fed free choice; (2) ZA-CBR, ZA-CB diet fed in equivalent amounts consumed by the ZD-CB group; (3) ZD-SO, fed free choice; (4) ZA-SOR, ZA-SO diet fed in equivalent amounts consumed by the ZD-SO group; and (5) ZA-SO, fed free choice. Growth and Zn status markers were markedly reduced in the ZD groups. ECI activity in the liver of the animals fed the ZD- and ZA-SO diets were significantly higher (approximately 2- and 3-fold, respectively) as compared with the CB-fed animals, whereas activities in extrahepatic tissues (kidneys, heart, skeletal muscle, testes, adipose tissue) were not altered by dietary treatments. Transcript levels of the mitochondrial Eci gene in the liver did not significantly differ between ZD and ZA rats, but were 1.6-fold higher in the ZA-SO- than in the ZD-CB-fed animals (P < 0.05). It is concluded that diets enriched with safflower oil as a source high in linoleic acid induce markedly increased hepatic ECI activities and that a moderate Zn deficiency does not affect transcription of the mitochondrial Eci gene in the liver.

A Moderate Zinc Deficiency Does Not Impair Gene Expression of PPARα, PPARγ, and Mitochondrial Enoyl-CoA Delta Isomerase in the Liver of Growing Rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of a moderate zinc deficiency and a high intake of polyunsaturated fat on the mRNA expression of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and mitochondrial Δ3Δ2-enoyl-CoA isomerase (ECI) in the liver. Weanling rats were assigned to five groups (eight animals each) and fed semi-synthetic, low-carbohydrate diets containing 7 or 50 mg Zn/kg (low-Zn (LZ) or high-Zn (HZ)) and 22% cocoa butter (CB) or 22% safflower (SF) oil for four weeks. One group each was fed the LZ-CB, LZ-SF, or HZ-SF diet free choice, and one group each was fed the HZ-CB and HZ-SF diets in restricted amounts according to intake of the respective LZ diets. The LZ diets markedly lowered growth and zinc concentrations in plasma and femur. Hepatic mRNA levels of PPARα, PPARγ, and ECI were not reduced by the moderate zinc deficiency. Overall, ECI-mRNA abundance was marginally higher in the SF-fed than in the CB-fed animals.

Zinc and DHA have opposing effects on the expression levels of histones H3 and H4 in human neuronal cells

Zn and DHA have putative neuroprotective effects and these two essential nutrients are known to interact biochemically. We aimed to identify novel protein candidates that are differentially expressed in human neuronal cell line M17 in response to Zn and DHA that would explain the molecular basis of this interaction. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MS were applied to identify major protein expression changes in the protein lysates of human Ml7 neuronal cells that had been grown in the presence and absence of Zn and DHA. Proteomic findings were further investigated using Western immunoblot and real-time PCR analyses. Four protein spots, which had significant differential expression, were identified and selected for in-gel trypsin digestion followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation MS analysis. The resultant peptide mass fingerprint for each spot allowed their respective identities to be deduced. Two human histone variants H3 and H4 were identified. Both H3 and H4 were downregulated by Zn in the absence of DHA (Zn effect) and upregulated by DHA (DHA effect) in the presence of Zn (physiological condition). These proteomic findings were further supported by Western immunoblot and real-time PCR analyses using H3- and H4-specific monoclonal antibodies and oligonucleotide primers, respectively. We propose that dietary Zn and DHA cause a global effect on gene expression, which is mediated by histones. Such novel information provides possible clues to the molecular basis of neuroprotection by Zn and DHA that may contribute to the future treatment, prevention and management of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

The role of essential trace elements in embryonic and fetal development in livestock

This review addresses the concept that essential trace minerals play a vital role in many enzymatic and metabolic pathways that are critical for conceptus development during pregnancy in livestock species. The conceptus relies entirely on the maternal system for a sufficient supply of trace minerals and other nutrients needed for normal development. If this supply is inadequate, growth and/or health of the conceptus can be affected adversely, and many of these effects carry over into the neonatal period. Information, accumulated in our laboratory and presented herein, indicates that zinc, copper and manganese are among the trace minerals that have the greatest impact on reproduction. For example, levels of zinc, copper and manganese were several fold greater in the conceptus than in other reproductive tissues, indicating that the conceptus preferentially accumulates these minerals, an action that may be important for conceptus development, growth and survival. Moreover, some recent results indicate that increasing the biological availability of zinc, copper and manganese, by attachment to short peptide chains (i.e., proteinated trace minerals) can enhance reproductive performance of swine. Mineral concentrations in conceptuses from female pigs consuming proteinated trace minerals were greater than those from females that consumed only inorganic mineral salts. Elucidating the mechanisms whereby conceptus development and survival are enhanced by essential trace minerals may lead to development of specific feeding programs to increase the number and health of offspring at parturition, thereby allowing for further improvements in production efficiency in animal agriculture.

Effects of dietary fat and zinc on adiposity, serum leptin and adipose fatty acid composition in C57BL/6J mice

Zinc (Zn) has been implicated in altered adipose metabolism, insulin resistance and obesity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects dietary Zn deficiency and supplementation on adiposity, serum leptin and fatty acid composition of adipose triglycerides and phospholipid in C57BL/6J mice fed low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diets for a 16 week period. Weanling C57BL/6J mice were fed LF (16% kcal from soybean oil) or HF (39% kcal from lard and 16% kcal from soybean oil) diets containing 3, 30 or 150 mg Zn/kg diet (ZD = Zn-deficient, ZC = Zn control and ZS = Zn-supplemented, respectively). HF-fed mice had higher fat pad weights and lower adipose Zn concentrations than the LF-fed mice. The ZD and ZS groups had a reduced content of fatty acids in adipose triglycerides compared to the ZC group, suggesting that zinc status may influence fatty acid accumulation in adipose tissue. Serum leptin concentration was positively correlated with body weight and body fat, and negatively correlated with adipose Zn concentration. Dietary fat, but not dietary Zn, altered the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue phospholipid and triglyceride despite differences in Zn status assessed by femur Zn concentrations. The fatty acid profile of adipose triglycerides generally reflected the diets. HF-fed mice had a higher percentage of C20:4 n-6, elevated ratio of n-6/n-3, lower ratio of PUFA/SAT and reduced percentage of total n-3 fatty acids in adipose phospholipid, a fatty acid profile associated with obesity-induced risks for insulin resistance and impaired glucose transport. In summary, the reduced adipose Zn concentrations in HF-fed mice and the negative correlation between serum leptin and adipose Zn concentrations support an interrelationship among obesity, leptin and Zn metabolism.

The effect of wintertime undernutrition on the fatty acid composition of leg bone marrow fats in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.)

We studied the effects of wintertime undernutrition on the fatty acid composition of bone marrow triacylglycerols (TAGs) of legs in freely-ranging reindeer calves (<1 year) and adult hinds by comparing reindeer in poor condition slaughtered in February with reindeer in good condition slaughtered in October. Significant reductions were found in the proportions of the major monounsaturated fatty acid, or oleic acid, and in linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids in the femur TAGs of the undernourished reindeer as compared with the reindeer in good condition. As a result of these changes, the unsaturation index (UI) of the femur TAGs was reduced by 11% both in the calves and hinds. Similarly, there were also significant reductions in the proportions of oleic and linoleic acid in the metatarsal TAGs in the undernourished hinds, but only in linoleic acid in the calves. The UI of the metatarsal TAGs of the hinds was reduced by 7%, but that of the calves remained unchanged. The results suggest selective mobilization of oleic acid and the principal C18-polyunsaturated fatty acids from bone marrow TAGs in the undernourished reindeer during winter. These changes decrease the unsaturation degree of bone marrow fats, and, if advanced, may impair their fluidity and the functioning of the legs in the cold.

Increased alpha-linolenic acid intake increases tissue alpha-linolenic acid content and apparent oxidation with little effect on tissue docosahexaenoic acid in the guinea pig

The essential fatty acids do not have identical roles in nutrition. Linoleic acid (LA) accumulates throughout the body of most mammals, whereas alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is rarely found in tissue lipids to the same extent as LA. It has been argued that this is the result of metabolism of ALA to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or that ALA is rapidly beta-oxidized to acetyl CoA and CO2. In this study, we consider the effect of high and low ALA levels on the tissue distribution of ALA and other n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in all tissues. Guinea pigs were fed one of two defined diets for 3 wk from weaning with both diets containing 1.8% (by weight) of LA and either 1.7% ALA or 0.03% ALA. The high ALA diet was associated with significantly increased ALA levels in all tissues except the brain and significantly increased levels of long-chain n-3 PUFA in all tissues except intestines, brain, carcass, and skin. The long-chain n-3 PUFA content of the whole body was less than 5% of that of the ALA content in both diet groups, and the major long-chain n-3 PUFA (>66% of total) in the body was 22:5n-3. The brain was the only tissue where the DHA content exceeded that of 22:5n-3. On the low ALA diet, there appeared to be conservation of ALA based on a comparison of the ratio of LA to ALA in the tissues compared with that in the diet. On the high ALA diet there was a loss of ALA relative to LA in the tissues compared with the diet. These studies suggest that the low levels of tissue ALA in the guinea pig are likely the result of beta-oxidation or excretion via the skin and fur rather than metabolism to DHA.

Breast-fed infants achieve a higher rate of brain and whole body docosahexaenoate accumulation than formula-fed infants not consuming dietary docosahexaenoate

Docosahexaenoate (DHA) has been increasingly recognized as an important fatty acid for neural and visual development during the first 6 mon of life. One important point of controversy that remains is the degree to which adequate levels of DHA can be acquired from endogenous synthesis in infants vs. what should be provided as dietary DHA. We have approached this problem by a retrospective analysis of published body composition data to estimate the actual accumulation of DHA in the human infant brain, liver, adipose tissue, remaining lean tissue, and whole body. Estimating whether infants can synthesize sufficient DHA required comparison to and extrapolation from animal data. Over the first 6 mon of life, DHA accumulates at about 10 mg/d in the whole body of breast-fed infants, with 48% of that amount appearing in the brain. To achieve that rate of accumulation, breast-fed infants need to consume a minimum of 20 mg DHA/d. Virtually all breast milk provides a DHA intake of at least 60 mg/d. Despite a store of about 1,050 mg of DHA in body fat at term birth and an intake of about 390 mg/d alpha-linolenate (alpha-LnA), the brain of formula-fed infants not consuming DHA accumulates half the DHA of the brain of breast-fed infants while the rest of the body actually loses DHA over the first 6 mon of life. No experimental data indicate that formula-fed infants not consuming DHA are able to convert the necessary 5.2% of alpha-LnA intake to DHA to match the DHA accumulation of breast-fed infants. We conclude that dietary DHA should likely be provided during at least the first 6 mon of life.

Lowered omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters of depressed patients

Depression is associated with a lowered degree of esterification of serum cholesterol, an increased C20:4omega6/C20:5omega3 ratio and decreases in omega3 fractions in fatty acids (FAs) or in the red blood cell membrane. The aims of the present study were to examine: (i) serum phospholipid and cholesteryl ester compositions of individual saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) in major depressed patients vs. healthy volunteers; (ii) the relationships between the above FAs and lowered serum zinc (Zn), a marker of the inflammatory response in depression; and (iii) the effects of subchronic treatment with antidepressants on FAs in depression. The composition of the FAs was determined by means of thin layer chromatography in conjunction with gas chromatography. Lipid concentrations were assayed by enzymatic colorimetric methods. The oxidative potential index (OPI) of FAs was computed in 34 major depressed inpatients and 14 normal volunteers. Major depression was associated with: increased MUFA and C22:5omega3 proportions and increased C20:4omega6/C20:5omega3 and C22:5omega6/C22:6omega3 ratios; lower C22:4omega6, C20:5omega3 and C22:5omega3 fractions in phospholipids; lower C18:3omega3, C20:5omega3 and total (sigma)omega3 FAs, and higher C20:4omega6/C20:5omega3 and sigmaomega6/sigmaomega3 ratios in cholesteryl esters; lower serum concentrations of phospholipids and cholesteryl esters; and a decreased OPI. In depression, there were significant and positive correlations between serum Zn and C20:5omega3 and C22:6omega3 fractions in phospholipids; and significant inverse correlations between serum Zn and the sigmaomega6/sigmaomega3, C20:4omega6/C20:5omega3, and C22:5omega6/C22:6omega3 ratios in phospholipids. There was no significant effect of antidepressive treatment on any of the FAs. The results show that, in major depression, there is a deficiency of omega3 PUFAs and a compensatory increase in MUFAs and C22:5omega6 in phospholipids. The results suggest that: (i) there is an abnormal metabolism of omega3 PUFAs in depression; (ii) the FA alterations in depression are related to the inflammatory response in that illness; and (iii) the disorders may persist despite successful antidepressant treatment.

Accumulation of polyunsaturates is decreased by weight-cycling: whole-body analysis in young, growing rats

Whole-body fatty acid analysis in rats has previously shown that 50-70% of dietary linoleate and alpha-linolenate is beta-oxidized to CO2 and that this value increases with refeeding after a single episode of fasting. Our hypothesis was that repeated fasting-refeeding or weight-cycling would increase the beta-oxidation of linoleate and alpha-linolenate thereby depleting their whole-body levels. In rats consuming 3% energy as linoleate and 0.15% energy as alpha-linolenate during a 16 d balance period, 19% of the linoleate consumed accumulated in weight-cycled rats compared with 34% in the free-fed controls (P < 0.01). Similarly, 11% of the alpha-linolenate consumed accumulated in the weight-cycled rats compared with 22% in the controls (P < 0.01). Arachidonate and docosahexaenoate also accumulated to lower extents in the weight-cycled rats than in the controls. In contrast, whole-body accumulation of palmitate, stearate and oleate was not different between the weight-cycled group and the controls when measured as a proportion of intake or relative to weight gain. Thus, whole-body depletion of linoleate and alpha-linolenate did not occur per se but the partitioning of linoleate and alpha-linolenate was significantly altered by weight-cycling resulting in lower whole-body accumulation and higher apparent oxidation of all polyunsaturates especially linoleate and alpha-linolenate.

Zinc deficiency impairs whole-body accumulation of polyunsaturates and increases the utilization of [1-14C]linoleate for de novo lipid synthesis in pregnant rats

Zinc deficiency impairs the metabolism of polyunsaturates, but the degree to which its effects are independent of food intake are still in question. Identical amounts of a semiliquid control diet (26.4 mg zinc/kg) or moderately zinc deficient diet (3.2 mg zinc/kg) were tube fed to rats for 11 days during the second half of pregnancy to evaluate the specific effects of zinc deficiency on maternal utilization and fetal accumulation of polyunsaturates. The whole body fatty acid balance method was used to determine net accumulation of polyunsaturates and their whole-body disappearance. Incorporation of 14C from [1-14C]linoleate into maternal and fetal lipid classes was also studied on days 20-21. At term, zinc-deficient rats had significantly higher whole-body disappearance of linoleate and alpha-linolenate and lower accumulation of n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturates. Zinc-deficient rats had higher 14C activity in free cholesterol, saturates, and monounsaturates in several maternal organs but not in the fetuses. We conclude that during pregnancy, moderate zinc deficiency not affecting food intake or weight gain still alters whole-body metabolism of linoleate and alpha-linolenate towards increased beta-oxidation and also increases the utilization of carbon from linoleate for de novo lipid synthesis.

Fasting/refeeding has little lasting effect on long-chain fatty acids accumulating in the developing rat conceptus

The objective of this study was to delineate the influence of maternal fasting-refeeding on accumulation of long-chain fatty acids by the developing conceptus in chow-fed pregnant rats. At term, the rat conceptus normally accumulates < 5% of total maternal whole body n - 6 polyunsaturates and < 15% of whole body n - 3 polyunsaturates. In contrast to the ad libitum-fed controls, the conceptus of fasted-refed rats was the main site of accumulation of n - 6 and n - 3 polyunsaturates since the maternal carcass (excluding liver) actually had a lower content of polyunsaturates at the end of the fasting-refeeding period than at the start. The rise in the content of triacylglycerols in the conceptus during fasting was specifically attributable to increased arachidonate, docosatetraenoate and docosahexaenoate; all changes in conceptus triacylglycerols were back to ad libitum control values by the end of the refeeding period (term). Conversely, although conceptus total phospholipids did not change significantly during fasting-refeeding, there was a net increase in the phospholipid content of both palmitate and oleate in conceptus after refeeding. We conclude that the developing rat conceptus is largely resistant to the marked changes in maternal fatty acid intake and retention that occur during fasting and refeeding.

Alpha-linolenic acid in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized study: flaxseed vs. safflower seed

In rheumatoid arthritis various pro-inflammatory metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA), such as leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), contribute to tissue destruction and pain. In contrast to AA, which is an omega-6 fatty acid, the omega-3 fatty acids, after having been liberated from the cell membrane phospholipids, are further converted into the non- or anti-inflammatory eicosanoids LTB5 and PGI3. AA concentration is an important regulatory step in the synthesis of both prostanoids and leukotriens. Dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has therefore been used to decrease the ratio of AA to EPA or DHA to obtain beneficial clinical effects. EPA and DHA are found in animal fat and are quite expensive compared to their precursor alpha-linolenic acid (alpha-LNA) found in flaxseed oil. We, therefore, performed a placebo-controlled trial with alpha-LNA in 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, using a linoleic acid preparation as a placebo. After a 3-month follow-up, the treatment group showed an increased bleeding time, but the clinical, subjective (global assessment, classification of functional status, joint score index, visual analogue scale, pain tenderness score) and laboratory parameters (haemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) did not show any statistical alterations. AA, EPA and DHA did not change either in spite of a significant increase in alpha-LNA in the treatment group. Thus, 3-month's supplementation with alpha-LNA did not prove to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis.