The effect of supplementation with fish oil during pregnancy on breast milk immunoglobulin A, soluble CD14, cytokine levels and fatty acid composition

BACKGROUND: Breast milk contains many immunomodulatory factors (soluble CD14 (sCD14), IgA and cytokines) with the potential to influence infant immune development. OBJECTIVE: To determine if changes in breast milk omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) composition as a result of maternal dietary fish oil supplementation during pregnancy can modify levels of these immunological parameters in breast milk. METHOD: In a randomized controlled trial, 83 atopic women received either 4 g fish oil capsules (containing 3.7 g n-3 PUFA) (n = 40) or 4 g olive oil capsules (n = 43) from 20 weeks gestation until delivery. Breast milk was collected 3 days post-partum and fatty acids were analysed by gas liquid chromatography and IgA, sCD14 and cytokines (IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma) were quantitated by ELISA or time resolved fluorescence (TRF). RESULTS: Omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in breast milk from women supplemented with fish oil (n = 33, DHA mean 1.15%, SD 0.47% and EPA mean 0.16%, SD 0.07%) than in samples from the control group (n = 40, DHA mean 0.50%, SD 0.17% and EPA mean 0.05%, SD 0.02%). Breast milk arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) levels were significantly lower (P = 0.045) in the fish oil group (mean 0.55%, SD 0.12%) compared with the control group (mean 0.61%, SD 0.14%). Breast milk IgA was positively correlated with DHA (P = 0.046) and 22:5n-3 (P = 0.003), but inversely correlated with linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6) (P=0.034). Levels of sCD14 were also positively correlated with 22:5n-3 (P=0.009). Cytokines involved in IgA synthesis (IL-10 and IL-6) were also significantly correlated with both IgA and n-3 PUFA levels, although there were no differences in the levels of breast milk IgA, sCD14 or cytokines between study groups. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with fish oil during pregnancy significantly alters early post-partum breast milk fatty acid composition. omega-3 PUFA levels were positively associated with IgA and sCD14 levels, suggesting a relationship between fatty acid status and mucosal immune function.     

Relationship of fish and cod oil intake with adult asthma

BACKGROUND: A diet rich in fish or cod oil might possibly reduce the risk for asthma and atopic diseases. However, previous studies show conflicting results and no studies have assessed the potential long-term effects of childhood fish intake on adult asthma. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether childhood and adult fish and cod oil intake was related to adult asthma. METHODS: In a large population-based study, Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE), 16 187 subjects aged 23-54 years answered a postal questionnaire. The relations of fish and cod oil intake with asthma symptoms and asthma were analysed using multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses, with adjustment for gender, adult hayfever, smoking, age, body mass index, household size, dwelling, parental education and centre, and for maternal smoking and family history of hayfever and asthma in a subsample (n=2459). RESULTS: Subjects from Iceland and Norway reported much more frequent intake of fish both in childhood and adulthood as compared with subjects from Sweden, Estonia and Denmark. Current fish intake less than weekly in adults was associated with more asthma symptoms, while more frequent fish intake did not appear to decrease the risk further. No dose-response association was found between childhood fish intake and adult asthma, but those who never ate fish in childhood had an increased risk for asthma and earlier asthma onset. Adult consumption of cod oil had a u-shaped association with asthma, with the highest risks in those taking cod oil never and daily. CONCLUSION: A minimum level of weekly fish intake in adulthood was associated with protection against asthma symptoms in this large North-European multi-centre study. Subjects who never ate fish in childhood were at an increased risk for asthma. Both indicate a possible threshold effect of fish on asthma.     

Structure and oxidation capacity of amino acid chloramine derivatives and their effects on platelet aggregation

Comparison of antiaggregation capacity of N-chloramine acids with different position of the chloramine group in the molecule showed that in the most efficient compounds the distance between the chloramine and carboxyl groups was 3–5 carbon atoms. This feature of antiaggregation activity was not related to the difference in oxidation capacity of N-chloramine acids. It was hypothesized that the revealed structural dependence of antiaggregation activity of N-chloramine acids is determined by the structure of platelet membrane, in particular, the presence of a negatively charged group near the site of interaction between N-chloramine acids and platelet membrane.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 12, pp. 632–634, December, 2004This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

The paradoxical effects of dietary fish oil on blood pressure.

Dietary fish oil supplementation has received considerable interest as a non-pharmacological adjuvant in the treatment of several diseases, especially hypertension. However, epidemiological, clinical, and experimental evidence conflict. A hypothesis is proposed that fish oil, may have a variable effect on vascular reactivity and consequently, blood pressure. A mechanism is proposed and reasons for the variation in the literature suggested. On the basis of this analysis a potentially adverse effect of dietary fish oil on blood pressure in some individuals is suggested.     

Docosahexaenoic acid dietary supplementation enhances the effects of exercise on synaptic plasticity and cognition

Omega-3 fatty acids (i.e. docosahexaenoic acid; DHA), similar to exercise, improve cognitive function, promote neuroplasticity, and protect against neurological lesion. In this study, we investigated a possible synergistic action between DHA dietary supplementation and voluntary exercise on modulating synaptic plasticity and cognition. Rats received DHA dietary supplementation (1.25% DHA) with or without voluntary exercise for 12 days. We found that the DHA-enriched diet significantly increased spatial learning ability, and these effects were enhanced by exercise. The DHA-enriched diet increased levels of pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and mature BDNF, whereas the additional application of exercise boosted the levels of both. Furthermore, the levels of the activated forms of CREB and synapsin I were incremented by the DHA-enriched diet with greater elevation by the concurrent application of exercise. While the DHA diet reduced hippocampal oxidized protein levels, a combination of a DHA diet and exercise resulted in a greater reduction rate. The levels of activated forms of hippocampal Akt and CaMKII were increased by the DHA-enriched diet, and with even greater elevation by a combination of diet and exercise. Akt and CaMKII signaling are crucial step by which BDNF exerts its action on synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. These results indicate that the DHA diet enhanced the effects of exercise on cognition and BDNF-related synaptic plasticity, a capacity that may be used to promote mental health and reduce risk of neurological disorders.     

In vivo characterization of fatty acids in human adipose tissue using natural abundance 1H decoupled 13C MRS at 1.5 T: clinical applications to dietary therapy

Natural abundance proton-decoupled (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to establish the in vivo lipid composition of normal adipose tissue and the corresponding effects of altered lipid diets. Experiments were performed on a standard 1.5 T clinical MR scanner using a double-tuned (1)H-(13)C coil. Peaks from double-bonded and methylene carbons were analyzed. Normal lipid composition was established in 20 control subjects. For comparison, five subjects on altered lipid diets were studied. Four subjects were on a fish oil supplement diet or predominantly seafood diet (polyunsaturated fatty acids), and one subject was on a Lorenzo's oil diet (monounsaturated fatty acids). Well-resolved (13)C spectra were obtained from the calf adipose tissue with a total acquisition time of 10 min. Model oil solutions were used to identify specific (13)C resonances. Subjects on lipid diets showed significantly elevated levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids for Lorenzo's and fish oil diets, respectively. We conclude that (13)C MR spectroscopy can readily detect changes in lipid composition due to medium- and long-term therapeutic lipid diets. Since the examination is rapid, robust and noninvasive, opportunities arise for large clinical trials of preventive or therapeutic diets to be performed with (13)C MRS on a clinical MR scanner.     

Initiation of a transplantable fibrosarcoma by the synergism of two non-initiators,alpha-tocopherol and soya oil

Summary When, in the course of an ageing study, -tocopherol (vitamin E), dissolved in soya oil, was given to 22 Balb/c mice once a week subcutaneously for 10 months, it caused the development of vigorously growing fibrosarcomata at the site of the injections in 17 (77.3%) of the animals. The tumors produced in this manner proved eminently transplantable into syngeneic Balb/c hosts, and have been serially transplanted every 3–4 weeks for over 3 years in such recipients, having reached their 44th transplantation cycle at the present time; upon transplantation, they now exhibit a 100% take incidence and proliferate extremely rapidly, growing from pin-head size to up to half the weight of a whole recipient mouse within 3 weeks. All fibrosarcomata showed marked mitotic activity, invasion of adjacent tissues and extensive necrotic areas, and they became more undifferentiated after the third transplantation cycle.Neither pure -tocopherol alone nor soya oil alone produced any tumors when given subcutaneously once a week, for 10 months to groups of 22 Balb/c mice each.It is concluded that the two agents -tocopherol and soya oil which proved non-carcinogenic when injected alone, developed a powerful carcinogenic effect when they acted on subcutaneous connective tissue simultaneously. The possible mechanisms of this phenomenon are discussed.Supported by funds from The Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport     

Comparison of mucus collecting methods in fish olfaction

A new method for collecting non-contaminated skin mucus from fishes is introduced. The method is compared with a “customary” method by gel filtration, analysis of free amino acids, and determination of dry weight. Skin mucus collected by the “customary” method is shown to be contaminated by intestinal juice. The role of skin mucus as a source of fish odorants affecting fish behaviour is discussed in the light of the above findings.     

Oral fish oil restores striatal dopamine release after traumatic brain injury

Omega-3 fatty acid administration can affect the release of neurotransmitters and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, but its use in traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been described extensively. We investigated the effect of 7 day oral fish oil treatment in the recovery of potassium evoked dopamine release after TBI. Sham rats and TBI rats were given either olive oil or fish oil by oral gavage and were subject to cerebral microdialysis. Olive oil treated TBI rats showed significant dopamine release deficit compared to sham rats, and this deficit was restored with oral fish oil treatment. There was no effect of fish oil treatment on extracellular levels of dopamine metabolites such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid. These results suggest the therapeutic potential of omega-3 fatty acids in restoring dopamine neurotransmission deficits after TBI.     

Effect of endurance training and/or fish oil supplemented diet on cytoplasmic fatty acid binding protein in rat skeletal muscles and heart

Endurance training and/or a fish oil supplemented diet affect cytoplasmic fatty acid binding protein (FABP_c) content in rat skeletal muscles and heart. After 8 weeks of swimming, trained rats exhibited higher FABP_c content in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and in the gastrocnemius than did control rats (30%). The FABP_c increase was associated with an increase of citrate synthase activity (85% and 93%, respectively, in the two muscles), whereas lactate dehydrogenase activity decreased significantly. In contrast, in the soleus and in the heart we did not observe any effect of exercise either on FABP_c or on the metabolic profile. Therefore, increasing oxidative capacities of muscle by exercise resulted in a concomitant increase of the FABP_c content. Giving a polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3) supplemented diet for eight weeks induced a large rise of the FABP_c in EDL (300%), gastrocnemius (250%), soleus (50%) and heart (15%) without a concurrent accumulation of intramuscular triglycerides or modification of the citrate synthase activity, suggesting that polyunsaturated fatty acids may increase FABP_c content by up-regulating fatty acid metabolism genes via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activation. Endurance trained rats fed with an ω-3 diet had similar FABP_c content in the gastrocnemius muscle when compared to sedentary ω-3 fed rats, whereas an additive effect of exercise and diet was observed in the EDL. The FABP_c in the soleus and in the heart of rats fed with ω-3 supplements remained constant whether rats performed exercise or not. As a result, both exercise and ω-3-enriched diet influenced FABP_c content in muscle. These two physiological treatments presumably acted on FABP_c content by increasing fatty acid flux within the cell. Electronic Publication     

灵芝孢子油与深海鱼油联合应用对小鼠学习记忆及海马神经元表达NOS的影响

目的探讨灵芝孢子油与深海鱼油联合应用对小鼠学习记忆及海马神经元表达NOS的影响。方法将受孕小鼠随机分为4组,自受孕第1天起分别胃饲生理盐水、灵芝孢子油、深海鱼油和灵芝孢子油加深海鱼油。在母鼠分娩21d后改为胃饲其幼鼠,然后将出生后45d的幼鼠处死。处死前进行Morris水迷宫行为学测试,处死后应用酶组织化学法检测海马神经元NOS的表达。结果在Morris水迷宫检测中,灵芝孢子油组、深海鱼油组和灵芝孢子油加深海鱼油组小鼠的逃逸潜伏期明显缩短。灵芝孢子油组和灵芝孢子油加深海鱼油组的小鼠平台象限游泳距离有增加。灵芝孢子油加深海鱼油组的小鼠大脑海马NOS阳性神经元与其它组的小鼠比较有显著性增加。结论灵芝孢子油和深海鱼油联合应用能够促进小鼠学习记忆能力及其大脑海马神经元表达NOS。     

Potential role of dietary lipids in the prophylaxis of some clinical conditions

An imbalance of dietary lipids may potentially have a significant role in the pathobiology of some chronic diseases. Public health dietary fat recommendations have emphasized that low saturated fat, high monounsaturated fat, and high polyunsaturated fat with a lower ω-6 to ω-3 fatty acid ratio intake are necessary for normal health. However, such universal recommendations are likely to be hazardous, since the outcome of recommended lipid intake may depend on the consumption of other important dietary constituents that have an important role in the metabolism of lipids. In addition, consumption of fatty acids as per the individually tailored specific requirements in the context of other nutritional factors may have the potential to stabilize hormones, mood and sleep, and minimize adverse events. In support of this proposal, we review various factors that influence fatty acid metabolism, which need to be taken into consideration for appropriate utilization and consequently prevention of various diseases.     

Documentation of Ultrastructural Changes in Nucleus and Microvilli by Fish Oil in Experimental Colon Carcinogenesis

Fish oil (FO) exerts a chemopreventive effect by regulating apoptosis in colon carcinogenesis. The present study reports the ultrastructural changes in various organelles on supplementation of FO in experimental colon carcinogenesis. The carcinogen treatment led to abnormal nuclear shape and alteration in microvilli number indicating cancer establishment. On the other hand, different ratios of FO and corn oil increased chromatin condensation along with an extensive loss of microvilli in a dose- and time-dependent manner which depicts an increase in apoptosis. The associated ultrastuctural alterations support the facilitation of apoptosis by FO as a mechanism for its beneficial effect in colon carcinogenesis.     

A case–control study of dietary and erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in asthma

Background Epidemiological evidence suggests that increased dietary ω‐6 and reduced ω‐3 fatty acid intake, may have contributed to the rising prevalence of asthma, but these hypotheses have not been tested in studies comparing both dietary intake and objective measures of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Objective To assess whether a higher intake of ω‐6 or a lower intake of ω‐3 fatty acids increases the risk of asthma, by measuring dietary fatty acid intake by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and erythrocyte membrane fatty acids, as an objective biomarker of intake. Methods We have compared individual fatty acid intake estimated by FFQ and by mass spectrometry of fasting erythrocyte cell membranes in 89 cases of asthma and 89 community‐matched controls. Results The odds of asthma were increased in relation to intake of the ω‐3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (odds ratio (OR) for difference between the 25th and 75th centiles of intake=1.89, 95% CI 1.15–3.11) and docosahexaenoic acid (OR=2.11, 95% CI 1.19–3.74). There was no evidence of any difference in erythrocyte membrane levels of ω‐3 fatty acids, while the odds of asthma were reduced in relation to linoleic acid (ω‐6) membrane levels (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.21–0.95). Conclusion These findings suggest that dietary ω‐3 fatty acids do not play a major role in protecting against asthma, and that higher levels of erythrocyte membrane linoleic acid are associated with a lower risk of asthma.