Interactions between prebiotics,probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols: diet or supplementation for metabolic syndrome prevention?

The metabolic syndrome can be prevented by the Mediterranean diet, characterized by fiber, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols. However, the composition of the Mediterranean diet, which can be viewed as a natural multiple supplement, is poorly controlled, and its beneficial effects poorly predictable. The metabolic syndrome is associated with intestinal dysbiosis and the gut microbioma seems to be the main target and player in the interactions occurring between probiotics, prebiotics, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols. From the reviewed evidence, it is reasonable to manage growth and metabolism of gut microflora with specific prebiotics and polyphenols. Even though the healthy properties of functional foods and nutraceuticals still need to be fully elucidated, available data suggest that well-designed supplements, containing the better ratio of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, specific probiotic strains, and selected polyphenols and prebiotics, could be useful in metabolic syndrome prevention and treatment.     

Genetically modified plants are an alternative to oily fish for providing n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human diet: A summary of the findings of a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded project

The n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) present primarily in oily fish, namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important components of cell membranes and that are needed for normal development and cell function. Humans have very limited capacity for EPA and DHA synthesis from α‐linolenic acid and so they must be obtained pre‐formed from the diet. However, perceived unpalatability of oily fish and fish oil concerns about contamination with environmental pollutants, dietary choices that exclude fish and animal products, and price limit the effectiveness of recommendations for EPA and DHA intakes. Moreover, marine sources of EPA and DHA are diminishing in the face of increasing demands. Therefore, an alternative source of EPA and DHA is needed that is broadly acceptable, can be upscaled and is sustainable. This review discusses these challenges and, using findings from recent nutritional trials, explains how they may be overcome by seed oils from transgenic plants engineered to produce EPA and DHA. Trials in healthy men and women assessed the acute uptake and appearance in blood over 8 hours of EPA and DHA from transgenic Camelina sativa compared to fish oil, and the incorporation of these PUFA into blood lipids after dietary supplementation. The findings showed that postprandial EPA and DHA incorporation into blood lipids and accumulation in plasma lipids after dietary supplementation was as good as that achieved with fish oil. The oil derived from this transgenic plant was well tolerated. This review also discusses the implications for human nutrition, marine ecology and agriculture.     

鱼油和ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸在冠心病防治中的作用

鱼油和ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸在冠心病防治中的价值,历经临床流行病研究、队列研究、基础研究和临床多中心随机对照研究,积累了大量的证据,并形成了一定的共识,但由于近年来几个大型双肓临床多中心随机对照试验结果不一致,目前的结论仍需要今后高质量的研究工作证实.     

硒与n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对甲基汞神经毒性影响的研究进展

水产品是人类甲基汞暴露的来源之一,同时包含多种对神经系统发育有重要作用的营养物质,如硒、n-3多不饱和脂肪酸。目前,多项研究提示硒与n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对甲基汞神经毒性可能具有潜在的保护作用。本文回顾了硒与n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对甲基汞神经毒性影响的流行病学与实验研究,重点讨论了其与甲基汞可能的相互作用及作用机制,在此基础上对未来的研究方向进行展望。     

ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸在非小细胞肺癌病人中的应用

ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 PUFA)是一种人体必需的多不饱和脂肪酸.其能调节炎性反应、增加放化疗的耐受性、改善病人的营养状况、提高病人的生活质量,在非小细胞肺癌治疗中有着重要的作用.以下就n-3 PUFA的代谢途径、n-3 PUFA调节炎性反应和抑制肺癌的分子机制、n-3 PUFA在肺癌术后病人以及放化疗病人中的应用作一综述.     

ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸逆转肠外营养所致肝损害的实验室观察

目的:从临床实验室和组织学观察ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸(ω-3PUFA)对成人肠外营养相关肝损害(PNALD)的作用.方法:选取15例长期行PN导致胆汁淤积(直接胆红索≥34μmol/L)的成人短肠综合征病人.动态观察病人应用ω-3PUFA前和治疗1个月内肝功能和血清游离脂肪酸谱的变化.同时行肝穿刺活检,观察治疗前和治疗1...     

The production of very-long-chain PUFA biosynthesis in transgenic plants: towards a sustainable source of fish oils

There is now considerable evidence of the importance of n-3 long-chain PUFA in human health and development. At the same time, the marine fish stocks that serve as the primary sources of these fatty acids are threatened by continued over-exploitation. Thus, there is an urgent need to provide a sustainable alternative source of the n-3 long-chain PUFA normally found in fish oils. The possibility of using transgenic plants genetically engineered to synthesise these important fatty acids has recently been demonstrated. The approaches taken to realise this outcome will be discussed, as will their prospects for providing a sustainable resource for the future.     

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce retinal stress induced by an elevation of intraocular pressure in rats

N-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to prevent tissue release of inflammatory molecules. We have shown that a combination of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs is more efficient than single supplementations on the long-term consequences of intraocular pressure elevation. We hypothesized that such an association is also more effective during early retinal stress by modifying retinal proinflammatory prostaglandin and cytokine productions. Rats were supplemented for 3 months with n-6 PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs, or both n-6 and n-3 PUFAs. After 3 months, a surgical elevation of intraocular pressure was induced. Retinal morphometry and glial cell activation were evaluated 24 hours after laser treatment. The retinal levels of prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and the messenger RNA levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured. Retinal glial cell activation after laser treatment was partly prevented by dietary n-6, n-3, and n-6 and n-3 PUFAs. Retinal PGE₁ was unaffected by the laser treatment or by the diet. Dietary n-6 and/or n-3 PUFAs prevented the increase in PGE₂ levels observed in laser-treated retinas without affecting the induction of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α messenger RNAs. This study shows that not only a combination of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs but also single supplementations can preserve the retina from early glial cell activation and PGE₂ release. The protective effect is not mediated by changes in cytokine expression but may be related to modifications in retinal prostaglandin metabolism.     

鱼油脂肪乳治疗脑外伤后SIRS的临床研究

目的:观察鱼油脂肪乳治疗脑外伤后全身炎症反应综合征(SIRS)的临床疗效,并探讨其可能机制。方法:将148例脑外伤后并发SIRS病人随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组74例。两组除给予常规临床处理外,治疗组给予20%脂肪乳250 ml+鱼油脂肪乳10 g静脉滴注;对照组给予20%脂肪乳250 ml,1次/d,共10 d。观察两组病人治疗前后急性生理学和慢性健康状况评分(APACHEⅡ)、多器官功能障碍综合征(MODS)发生率和病死率,并测定治疗前后血C-反应蛋白(CRP)水平。结果:治疗后两组病人APACHEⅡ评分明显降低。两组MODS发生率和病死率均有显著差异(P0.05)。鱼油脂肪乳治疗组病人CRP浓度明显低于对照组(P0.01)。结论:鱼油脂肪乳治疗脑外伤后SIRS的临床疗效显著,对稳定病人早期生命体征和降低脑外伤病死率的作用较好。     

Use of microencapsulated fish oil as a means of increasing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake

Background: The successful incorporation of fish oil into foods may provide a means of increasing intakes of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bioavailability of n-3 PUFA in microencapsulatd fish oil compared with a fish oil capsule. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers were recruited to take part in this randomized controlled trial. Volunteers were supplemented with 0.9 g n-3 PUFA daily for 4 weeks, delivered either as microencapsulated fish oil in a milkshake or as a fish oil capsule. Plasma fatty acid composition and plasma total cholesterol levels were measured at baseline and after supplementation. In addition, volunteers completed a questionnaire on fish consumption, use of supplements and exercise. Results: Responses to the questionnaire indicated that the males who took part in this study took more physical exercise, consumed less fish and were less likely than the females to take supplements. Plasma n-3 PUFA concentrations were raised significantly and by a similar level by both fish oil supplements. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in plasma n-3 PUFA concentrations following supplementation with either form of fish oil. Plasma total cholesterol levels were not significantly altered by n-3 PUFA supplementation in either group. The results of this study indicated that there was no difference in the bioavailability of n-3 PUFA given as microencapsulated fish oil compared with n-3 PUFA delivered as a fish oil capsule. Fortification of foodstuffs with microencapsulated fish oil therefore offers the potential to increase intakes of n-3 PUFA in line with current recommendations.     

胡麻子来源的ω-3多价不饱和脂肪酸对高脂血症患者降脂作用的初步研究

采用开放、自身对照方法，在57例高脂血症患者中，观察胡麻子来源的ω－3多价不饱和脂肪酸对血脂的影响。受试患者每天口服胡麻子油胶丸6克，服药1～12（7．4±4．7）个月。结果表明：治疗后高脂血症患者血清胆固醇和甘油三脂均明显降低，高密度脂蛋白有所上升，而低密度脂蛋白无明显变化，未见严重不良反应。提示胡麻子来源的ω－3多价不饱和脂肪酸对高脂血症患者可能具有有益的血脂调整作用，但尚需大样本和长期的观察来证实。     

The quality properties and saturated and unsaturated fatty acid profiles of quail egg: the alterations of fatty acids with process effects

The nutritional composition (moisture, ash, crude protein, available carbohydrates, total lipids), energy value, some quality characteristics (yolk weight, albumen weight and shell weight), cholesterol level and fatty acid profiles of quail egg were determined (p<0.01). The protein content of quail egg was higher than laying hen's egg. The fatty acid composition of quail egg yolk consisted of 24 fatty acids including saturated fatty acids (C14:0, C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C20:0, C22:0, C24:0), monounsaturated fatty acids (C15:1, C16:1, C17:1, C18:1n9, C18:1n7, C22:1n9, C24:1) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18:2n6t, C18:2n6c, C18:3n6, C18:3n3, C20:2, C20:3n6, C20:3n3, C20:4n6, C22:2, C20:5n3, C22:6n3). The total cholesterol level of quail egg was found to be 73.45±1.07 mg/100 g. Linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) (10.28%), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) (1.92%) and cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3) (0.63%) were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fatty acid content of quail egg yolk, whereas oleic acid (C18:1n9c) was the major monounsaturated fatty acid comprising 26.71% in the yolk. The palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) levels were 16.62% and 6.89%, respectively. Total omega-3 was detected as 1.16% in raw egg whereas it was 0.82% in soft-boiled (rafadan) egg. The polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid proportion was 0.58 and 0.64 for raw and processed yolk, respectively.     

Serum levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids are low in Chinese men with metabolic syndrome,whereas serum levels of saturated fatty acids,zinc, and magnesium are high

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that serum levels of phospholipid (PL) fatty acids (FA) and minerals are associated with the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Chinese population and the profiles of changes may differ from patients with MetS from Western countries. The levels of serum PL, FA, and minerals were examined in 201 subjects (52 with MetS and 149 healthy controls without any MetS components) in China. The saturated FA proportion in serum was significantly higher, whereas the proportion of total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), n-3 and n-6 PUFA (22:6n-3: −16%, P = .006; 20:4n-6: −36%, P < .001), and estimated δ-5 desaturase were significantly lower in the MetS group compared with those that are not MetS. Subjects with MetS had higher levels of serum Zn (P = .037) and Mg (P < .001) than subjects without MetS. The proportion of n-3 PUFA was significantly negatively correlated with body mass index and waist circumference. In conclusion, serum PL FA composition and serum minerals in Chinese men with MetS differed significantly from that of healthy individuals, reflecting a decrease in n-3 and n-6 PUFA, especially 22:6n-3 and 20:4n-6, and an increase in saturated FA, magnesium, and zinc. These changes may reflect improper dietary intake in subjects with MetS, and dietary modification could be useful to prevent MetS and as an adjunctive therapy.