Red blood cell MUFAs and risk of coronary artery disease in the Physicians' Health Study

Effect of daily avocado consumption for 6 mo compared with habitual diet on red blood cell fatty acid profiles and association with cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with abdominal obesity: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Avocado intake improves dietary fat quality, but the subsequent impact on red blood cell (RBC) saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), and trans-fatty acid (TFA) composition and association with cardiometabolic health, has not been elucidated.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effect of consuming 1 avocado/d relative to habitual diet (HAB) on RBC-FA profiles, and their association with visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in individuals with abdominal obesity.

METHODS

RBC-FA profiling at baseline, 3- and 6 mo was conducted in participants (n = 994) from the Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT). HAT was a multisite, free-living, parallel-arm intervention study in which participants were randomly assigned to either the avocado-supplemented group (AVO, usual diet with 1 avocado/d) or the HAB group (usual diet with limited avocado intake) for 6 mo. Changes in RBC-FA profiles, a secondary outcome measure, were determined within and between groups using linear regression and mixed effect models, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, clinical site, smoking status, and percentage of energy intake from fat at baseline. The association between changes in RBC-FAs with visceral adiposity measures and CMRFs was assessed after covariate and False Discovery Rate (FDR <0.05) adjustment.

RESULTS

No major differences in RBC-FA profiles were observed between groups, with the exception of MUFA cis-vaccenic [18:1n-7c], which was significantly higher in AVO (β: 0.11 [0.05, 0.17]) compared with the HAB (β: 0.03 [-0.03, 0.08]) participants. In the HAB but not AVO group, increases in MUFA cis (18:1n-7c, oleic [18;1n-9c], erucic [22:1n-9c]) and MUFA trans (palmitelaidic [16:1n-7t], vaccenic [18:1n-7t], elaidic [18:1n-9t], and petroselaidic [18;1n-10-12t), as well as PUFA γ-linolenic [18:3n-6], dihomo-γ-linolenic [20:3n-6], arachidonic [20:4n-6], and α-linolenic [18:3n-3] were associated with unfavorable changes in visceral adiposity measures, lipid profiles, glucose, insulin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily avocado intake over 6-mo modified RBC-MUFA composition, notably 18:1n-7c, and potentially mitigated some of the unfavorable individual RBC-FA-CMRF associations observed over time in the HAB group. This trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study as NCT03528031.

Spillover Effects of a Family-Based Childhood Weight-Management Intervention on Parental Nutrient Biomarkers and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

BACKGROUND

Parental involvement has been shown to favorably affect childhood weight-management interventions, but whether these interventions influence parental diet and cardiometabolic health outcomes is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to evaluate whether a 1-y family-based childhood weight-management intervention altered parental nutrient biomarker concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs).

METHODS

Secondary analysis from a randomized-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial (NCT00851201). Families were recruited from a largely Hispanic population and assigned to either standard care (SC; American Academy of Pediatrics overweight/obesity recommendations) or SC + enhanced program (SC+EP; targeted diet/physical activity strategies, skill building, and monthly support sessions). Nutrient biomarkers (plasma carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins, RBC fatty acid profiles) and CMRFs (BMI, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction markers, adipokines) were measured in archived samples collected from parents of participating children at baseline and end of the 1-y intervention.

RESULTS

Parents in both groups (SC = 106 and SC+EP = 99) had significant reductions in trans fatty acid (-14%) and increases in MUFA (2%), PUFA n-6 (ɷ-6) (2%), PUFA n-3 (7%), and β-carotene (20%) concentrations, indicative of lower partially hydrogenated fat and higher vegetable oil, fish, and fruit/vegetable intake, respectively. Significant reductions in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP; -21%) TNF-α (-19%), IL-6 (-19%), and triglycerides (-6%) were also observed in both groups. An additional significant improvement in serum insulin concentrations (-6%) was observed in the SC+EP parents. However, no major reductions in BMI or blood pressure and significant unfavorable trajectories in LDL-cholesterol and endothelial dysfunction markers [P-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM), thrombomodulin] were observed. Higher carotenoid, MUFA, and PUFA (n-6 and n-3) and lower SFA and trans fatty acid concentrations were associated with improvements in circulating glucose and lipid measures, inflammatory markers, and adipokines.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefits of a family-based childhood weight-management intervention can spill over to parents, resulting in apparent healthier dietary shifts that are associated with modest improvements in some CMRFs.

Long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids improve endothelial function with altering microbial flora

Fish oil-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFAs) with a carbon chain length longer than 18 units ameliorate cardiovascular risk in mice. In this study, we investigated whether LCMUFAs could improve endothelial functions in mice and humans. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center study, healthy subjects were randomly assigned to either an LCMUFA oil (saury oil) or a control oil (olive and tuna oils) group. Sixty subjects were enrolled and administrated each oil for 4 weeks. For the animal study, ApoE^-/- mice were fed a Western diet supplemented with 3% of either gadoleic acid (C20:1) or cetoleic acid (C22:1) for 12 weeks. Participants from the LCMUFA group showed improvements in endothelial function and a lower trimethylamine-N-oxide level, which is a predictor of coronary artery disease. C20:1 and C22:1 oils significantly improved atherosclerotic lesions and plasma levels of several inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α. These beneficial effects were consistent with an improvement in the gut microbiota environment, as evident from the decreased ratio of Firmicutes and/ or Bacteroidetes, increase in the abundance of Akkermansia, and upregulation of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-induced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) expression and serum GLP-1 level. These data suggest that LCMUFAs alter the microbiota environment that stimulate the production of SCFAs, resulting in the induction of GLP-1 secretion. Fish oil-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids might thus help to protect against cardiovascular disease.

Biologically Active Compounds in Mustard Seeds: A Toxicological Perspective

Mustard plants have been widely cultivated and used as spice, medicine and as source of edible oils. Currently, the use of the seeds of the mustard species Sinapis alba (white mustard or yellow mustard), Brassica juncea (brown mustard) and Brassica nigra (black mustard) in the food and beverage industry is immensely growing due to their nutritional and functional properties. The seeds serve as a source for a wide range of biologically active components including isothiocyanates that are responsible for the specific flavor of mustard, and tend to reveal conflicting results regarding possible health effects. Other potentially undesirable or toxic compounds, such as bisphenol F, erucic acid or allergens, may also occur in the seeds and in mustard products intended for human consumption. The aim of this article is to provide comprehensive information about potentially harmful compounds in mustard seeds and to evaluate potential health risks as an increasing use of mustard seeds is expected in the upcoming years.

SCD rs41290540 single-nucleotide polymorphism modifies miR-498 binding and is associated with a decreased risk of coronary artery disease

Background

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of coronary artery disease (CAD), and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) is associated with atherosclerosis. However, the associations between variants of SCD and CAD have not yet been decided.

Methods

This study analyzed SCD rs41290540 single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3′‐untranslated region for an association with a risk of CAD among the Chinese Han population. CAD patients and controls were genotyped for SNP rs41290540 in SCD by SNaPshot. The binding affinity of miR‐498 to rs41290540 was determined by a luciferase assay, and SCD expression was assessed using Western blot.

Results

A total of 969 CAD patients and 1,095 control subjects were involved in this study. The SCD rs41290540CC genotype is associated with a decreased risk of CAD compared with the AA genotype. Furthermore, the CC genotype is associated with lower serum total cholesterol (TC). Western blot analysis demonstrated that miR‐498 suppressed the expression of SCD. A luciferase assay confirmed that rs41290540 A>C variation in the SCD 3′UTR inhibits miR‐498 binding.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the SCD rs41290540 may be associated with a decreased risk of CAD, lower serum TC, and decreased miR‐498 binding.

Supplementation with saury oil, a fish oil high in omega-11 monounsaturated fatty acids, improves plasma lipids in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND

Fish oil enriched in omega-11 long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFAs; C20:1 and C22:1 isomers combined) have shown lipid-lowering and atheroprotective effects in animal models.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a first-in-human trial of LCMUFA-rich saury fish oil supplementation to test its safety and possible effect on plasma lipids.

METHODS

A double-blind, randomized, crossover clinical trial was carried out in 30 healthy normolipidemic adults (BMI <25 kg/m2; mean TG, 84 mg/dL). Treatment periods of 8 weeks were separated by an 8-week washout period. Subjects were randomized to receive either 12 g of saury oil (3.5 g of LCMUFA and 3.4 g of omega-3 FAs) or identical capsules with control oil (a mixture of sardine and olive oil; 4.9 g of shorter-chain MUFA oleate and 3 g of omega-3 FAs).

RESULTS

Saury oil supplementation was safe and resulted in LDL particle counts 12% lower than control oil (P < .001). Saury oil also had a minor effect on increasing HDL particle size (9.8 nm vs 9.7 nm; P < .05) based on a linear mixed effect model. In contrast, control oil, but not saury oil, increased LDL-C by 7.5% compared with baseline (P < .05). Saury oil had similar effects compared with control oil on lowering plasma TG levels, VLDL, and TG-rich lipoprotein particle counts (by ∼16%, 25%, and 35%, respectively; P < .05), and increasing HDL-C and cholesterol efflux capacity (by ∼6% and 8%, respectively; P < .05) compared with baseline.

CONCLUSION

Saury oil supplementation is well tolerated and has beneficial effects on several cardiovascular parameters, such as LDL particle counts, HDL particle size, and plasma TG levels.

Marine omega-3 (n-3) phospholipids: A comprehensive review of their properties, sources, bioavailability, and relation to brain health

For several decades, there has been considerable interest in marine-derived long chain n-3 fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) due to their outstanding health benefits. n-3 LCPUFAs can be found in nature either in triglycerides (TAGs) or in phospholipid (PL) form. From brain health point of view, PL n-3 is more bioavailable and potent compared to n-3 in TAG form, as only PL n-3 is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and can be involved in brain biochemical reactions. However, PL n-3 has been ignored in the fish oil industry and frequently removed as an impurity during degumming processes. As a result, PL products derived from marine sources are very limited compared to TAG products. Commercially, PLs are being used in pharmaceutical industries as drug carriers, in food manufacturing as emulsifiers and in cosmetic industries as skin care agents, but most of the PLs used in these applications are produced from vegetable sources that contain less (without EPA, DPA, and DHA) or sometimes no n-3 LCPUFAs. This review provides a comprehensive account of the properties, structures, and major sources of marine PLs, and provides focussed discussion of their relationship to brain health. Epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical studies on n-3 LCPUFAs enriched PLs using different model systems in relation to brain and mental health that have been published over the past few years are discussed in detail.

Erucic Acid (22:1n-9) in Fish Feed, Farmed, and Wild Fish and Seafood Products

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a risk assessment of erucic acid (22:1n-9) in 2016, establishing a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for humans of 7 mg kg⁻¹ body weight per day. This report largely excluded the contribution of erucic acid from fish and seafood, due to this fatty acid often not being reported separately in seafood. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway analyzes erucic acid and has accumulated extensive data from analyses of fish feeds, farmed and wild fish, and seafood products. Our data show that rapeseed oil (low erucic acid varieties) and fish oil are the main sources of erucic acid in feed for farmed fish. Erucic acid content increases with total fat content, both in farmed and wild fish, and it is particularly high in fish liver, fish oil, and oily fish, such as mackerel. We show that the current TDI could be exceeded with a 200 g meal of mackerel, as at the maximum concentration analyzed, such a meal would contribute 143% to the TDI of a 60 kg person. These data cover a current knowledge gap in the scientific literature regarding the content of erucic acid in fish and seafood.

Fatty acids composition of aorta and saphenous vein tissues in patients with coronary artery diseases

Introduction: Considering importance of fatty acids in developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and lack of information about saphenous vein which is commonly used as coronary arterial bypass, in this study we investigated differences in fatty acids composition between saphenous vein and aorta tissues in patients with CAD.

Methods: Biopsy samples of aortic tissues and saphenous veins as well as blood samples were obtained form 42 patients with CAD. Fatty acids composition of the tissues was determined using gas chromatography and also serum lipid profile was evaluated by commercial kits.

Results: Levels of palmitic acid (16:0) were significantly higher in aorta in compared with saphenous (P < 0.001). Also levels of most unsaturated fatty acids (16:1, 18:1n-9, 18:1t, 18:2t, 18:3 n‐9 and 22:3n-3) were statistically higher in saphenous tissue than aorta tissue (P < 0.05). Mean levels of linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) was higher in aorta tissue in comparison with saphenous tissue (P = 0.01). We observed positive correlations between serum levels of LDL-C with elaidic acid and linoleic acid levels in saphenous. Evaluation of aorta tissue fatty acids revealed that palmitoleic acid (16:1) had positive and arachidonic and linoleic acids had negative correlations with serum HDL-C levels.

Conclusion: Our results revealed difference between fatty acids composition of aorta and saphenous vein tissues and existence of correlations between the fatty acids levels with serum lipid profile. The saphenous vein had higher poly-unsaturated fatty acids in compared to aorta tissue and thus this vein is not at risk of atherosclerosis and can be used as coronary arterial bypass.

Dietary supplementation with long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid isomers decreases atherosclerosis and alters lipoprotein proteomes in LDLr-/- mice

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Concentrated fish oils, containing a mixture of long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFA) with aliphatic chains longer than 18 C atoms (i.e., C20:1 and C22:1), have been shown to attenuate atherosclerosis development in mouse models. It is not clear, however, how individual LCMUFA isomers may act on atherosclerosis.

METHODS

In the present study, we used saury fish oil-derived concentrates enriched in either C20:1 or C22:1 isomer fractions to investigate their individual effect on atherosclerosis and lipoprotein metabolism. LDLR-deficient (LDLr^-/-) mice were fed a Western diet supplemented with 5% (w/w) of either C20:1 or C22:1 concentrate for 12 wk.

RESULTS

Compared to the control Western diet with no supplement, both LCMUFA isomers increased hepatic levels of LCMUFA by 2∼3-fold (p < 0.05), and decreased atherosclerotic lesion areas by more than 40% (p < 0.05), although there were no major differences in plasma lipoproteins or hepatic lipid content. Both LCMUFA isomers significantly decreased plasma CRP levels, improved Abca1-dependent cholesterol efflux capacity of apoB-depleted plasma, and enhanced Ppar transcriptional activities in HepG2 cells. LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis of lipoproteins (HDL, LDL and VLDL) revealed that both LCMUFA isomer diets resulted in similar potentially beneficial alterations in proteins involved in complement activation, blood coagulation, and lipid metabolism. Several lipoprotein proteome changes were significantly correlated with atherosclerotic plaque reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary supplementation with the LCMUFA isomers C20:1 or C22:1 was equally effective in reducing atherosclerosis in LDLr^-/-mice and this may partly occur through activation of the Ppar signaling pathways and favorable alterations in the proteome of lipoproteins.

Hospital admission volume does not impact the in-hospital mortality of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Multiple factors influence mortality in Acute Pancreatitis (AP).

METHODS

To evaluate the association of demographic, clinical, and hospital factors with the in-hospital mortality of AP using a population-based administrative database. The Maryland HSCRC database was queried for adult (≥18 years) admissions with primary diagnosis of AP between 1/94-12/10. Organ failure (OF), interventions, hospital characteristics and referral status were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 72,601 AP admissions across 48 hospitals in Maryland with 885 (1.2%) deaths. A total of 1657 (2.3%) were transfer patients, of whom 101 (6.1%) died. Multisystem OF was present in 1078 (1.5%), of whom 306 (28.4%) died. On univariable analysis, age, male gender, transfer status, comorbidity, OF, all interventions, and all hospital characteristics were significantly associated with mortality; however, only age, transfer status, OF, interventions, and large hospital size were significant in the adjusted analysis. Patients with commercial health insurance had significantly less mortality than those with other forms of insurance (OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.82, p = 0.0002).

CONCLUSION

OF is the strongest predictor of mortality in AP after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics. Admission to HV or teaching hospital has no survival benefit in AP after adjusting for OF and transfer status.

Dietary marine-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids and cardiovascular disease risk: a mini review

Regular fish/fish oil consumption is widely recommended for protection against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Fish and other marine life are rich sources of the cardioprotective long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 n-3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3; DHA). The lipid content and fatty acid profile of fish, however, vary greatly among different fish species. In addition to n-3 PUFA, certain fish, such as saury, pollock, and herring, also contain high levels of long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFA), with aliphatic tails longer than 18 C atoms (i.e., C20:1 and C22:1 isomers). Compared with well-studied n-3 PUFA, limited information, however, is available on the health benefits of marine-derived LCMUFA, particularly in regard to CVD. Our objective in this review is to summarize the current knowledge and provide perspective on the potential therapeutic value of dietary LCMUFA-rich marine oil for improving CVD risk factors. We will also review the possible mechanisms of LCMUFA action on target tissues. Finally, we describe the epidemiologic data and small-scaled clinical studies that have been done on marine oils enriched in LCMUFA. Although there are still many unanswered questions about LCMUFA, this appears to be promising new area of research that may lead to new insights into the health benefits of a different component of fish oils besides n-3 PUFA.

Fatty acid concentrations in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder compared to healthy controls

BACKGROUND

Although fatty acid (FA)-supplementation studies are currently being implemented, in fact little is known about FA-profiles in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, the present study aimed at comparing FA-concentrations between PTSD-patients and healthy controls.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study comparing a mixed-gender sample of 49 patients with PTSD due to civilian trauma to 46 healthy controls regarding erythrocyte FAs including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (AA), and nervonic acid (NA).

RESULTS

DHA was found to be significantly lower in PTSD-patients compared to controls after adjusting for sociodemographic and dietary factors (p =0.043). Additionally, exploratory analyses showed lower vaccenic acid (p =0.035) and eicosatrienoic acid (p =0.006), but higher erucic acid (p =0.032) in PTSD-patients. The effect of erucic acid remained after adjustment for sociodemographic factors (p =0.047); with the additional adjustment for dietary factors none of these FAs were found to be significant.

LIMITATIONS

Statistical power for differences with small effect sizes was limited, and dietary assessment could be optimized.

CONCLUSIONS

We found little evidence for a considerable role of FA-metabolism in PTSD. Apart from lower DHA after adjusting for confounders, no differences were observed in the hypothesized long-chained polyunsaturated FA-concentrations. Additionally, we found few alterations in the long-chained monounsaturated FAs, which may be explained by dietary factors. Nevertheless, the observed small effect sizes and limited extent of the alterations emphasize the importance of further investigating the assumed role of FA-metabolism and its underlying mechanisms in PTSD, before implementing further FA-supplementation studies.

Long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid-rich fish oil attenuates the development of atherosclerosis in mouse models

SCOPE

Fish oil-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFA) containing chain lengths longer than 18 were previously shown to improve cardiovascular disease risk factors in mice. However, it is not known if LCMUFA also exerts anti-atherogenic effects. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of LCMUFA on the development of atherosclerosis in mouse models.

METHODS AND RESULTS

LDLR-KO mice were fed Western diet supplemented with 2% (w/w) of either LCMUFA concentrate, olive oil, or not (control) for 12 wk. LCMUFA, but not olive oil, significantly suppressed the development of atherosclerotic lesions and several plasma inflammatory cytokine levels, although there were no major differences in plasma lipids between the three groups. At higher doses 5% (w/w) LCMUFA supplementation was observed to reduce pro-atherogenic plasma lipoproteins and to also reduce atherosclerosis in ApoE-KO mice fed a Western diet. RNA sequencing and subsequent qPCR analyses revealed that LCMUFA upregulated PPAR signaling pathways in liver. In cell culture studies, apoB-depleted plasma from LDLR-K mice fed LCMUFA showed greater cholesterol efflux from macrophage-like THP-1 cells and ABCA1-overexpressing BHK cells.

CONCLUSION

Our research showed for the first time that LCMUFA consumption protects against diet-induced atherosclerosis, possibly by upregulating the PPAR signaling pathway.