1.
Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Plasma proteomics in the randomized WELCOME* trial.
Manousopoulou, A, Scorletti, E, Smith, DE, Teng, J, Fotopoulos, M, Roumeliotis, TI, Clough, GF, Calder, PC, Byrne, CD, Garbis, SD
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2019;(4):1952-1955
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver condition characterised by liver fat accumulation and often considered to be the liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine in patients with NAFLD the system-wide effects of treatment with docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA + EPA) versus placebo on the plasma proteome. METHODS Plasma from patients that participated in a 15-18 months randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial testing the effects of 4 g DHA + EPA daily was analysed using depletion-free quantitative proteomics. RESULTS Bioinformatics interpretation of the proteomic analysis showed that DHA + EPA treatment affected pathways involving blood coagulation, immune/inflammatory response and cholesterol metabolism (p < 0.05). Two key proteins of cardiovascular risk, prothrombin and apolipoprotein B-100, were shown to decrease as a result of DHA + EPA supplementation [Prothrombin: Males DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.13 (0.20) p = 0.05, Females DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.48 (0.35) p = 0.03; Apo B-100: Males DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.24 (0.16) p = 0.01, Females DHA + EPA Mean iTRAQ log2ratio (SD) = -0.15 (0.05) p = 0.02]. CONCLUSIONS Plasma proteomics applied in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial showed that high dose DHA + EPA treatment in patients with NAFLD affects multiple pathways involved in chronic non-communicable diseases.
2.
DHA and ARA addition to infant formula: Current status and future research directions.
Lien, EL, Richard, C, Hoffman, DR
Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids. 2018;:26-40
Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are present in breast milk and play important roles in early infant development. A supply of these fatty acids in infant formula (typically following breast milk as a model with ARA > DHA) is thought to be important since endogenous synthesis is insufficient to maintain tissue levels equivalent to breast-fed infants. Intervention studies assessing the impact of DHA- and ARA-supplemented formulas have resulted in numerous positive developmental outcomes (closer to breast-fed infants) including measures of specific cognition functions, visual acuity, and immune responses. A critical analysis of outcome assessment tools reveals the essentiality of selecting appropriate, focused techniques in order to provide accurate evaluation of DHA- and ARA-supplemented formulas. Future research directions should encompass in-depth assessment of specific cognitive outcomes, immune function, and disease incidence, as well as sources of experimental variability such as the status of fatty acid desaturase polymorphisms.
3.
Inflammatory gene expression in whole blood cells after EPA vs. DHA supplementation: Results from the ComparED study.
Vors, C, Allaire, J, Marin, J, Lépine, MC, Charest, A, Tchernof, A, Couture, P, Lamarche, B
Atherosclerosis. 2017;:116-122
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Whether EPA and DHA exert similar anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of gene expression in immune cells remains unclear. The aim of the study was to compare the impact of EPA and DHA supplementation on inflammatory gene expression in subjects at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. METHODS In this randomized double-blind crossover trial, 154 men and women with abdominal obesity and low-grade inflammation were subjected to three 10-wk supplementation phases: 1) EPA (2.7 g/d); 2) DHA (2.7 g/d); 3) corn oil (3 g/d), separated by a 9-wk washout. Pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression was assessed in whole blood cells by RT-qPCR after each treatment in a representative sample of 44 participants. RESULTS No significant difference was observed between EPA and DHA in the expression of any of the genes investigated. Compared with control, EPA enhanced TRAF3 and PPARA expression and lowered CD14 expression (p < 0.01) whereas DHA increased expression of PPARA and TNFA and decreased CD14 expression (p < 0.05). Variations in gene expression after EPA and after DHA were strongly correlated for PPARA (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001) and TRAF3 (r = 0.66, p < 0.0001) and less for TNFA (r = 0.46, p < 0.005) and CD14 (r = 0.16, p = 0.30). CONCLUSIONS High-dose supplementation with either EPA or DHA has similar effects on the expression of many inflammation-related genes in immune cells of men and women at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. The effects of EPA and of DHA on anti-inflammatory gene expression may be more consistent than their effects on expression of pro-inflammatory genes in whole blood cells.
4.
The importance of dietary DHA and ARA in early life: a public health perspective.
Forsyth, S, Gautier, S, Salem, N
The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2017;(4):568-573
Abstract
Although the literature on the contribution of DHA and arachidonic acid (ARA) to fundamental metabolic functions in brain, immune and cardiovascular systems is extensive, there is a lack of consensus on the need for explicit recommendations on dietary intake for both DHA and ARA during the early years of life. This review takes a public health perspective with the objective of ensuring that recommendations protect the most vulnerable children worldwide. Most studies on the effects of DHA and ARA in early life have been undertaken in high-income countries and this is reflected in policy recommendations. Although breast milk is considered the gold standard and always contains DHA and ARA, there are proposals that infant formulas, especially follow-on formulas, do not need to be supplemented with these fatty acids. Complementary foods frequently have low concentrations of ARA and DHA and this is most significant in low-income countries where availability is also limited. Recent evidence shows that in developing countries, intakes of DHA and ARA during the age period 6-36 months are low and this relates to low national income. It is concluded that a continuum of DHA and ARA intake needs to be maintained during early life, a critical period of infant growth and development. For both infant and follow-on formulas, DHA and ARA should be mandatory at levels that are equivalent to breast milk. An optional recommendation may be limited to countries that can demonstrate evidence of adequate intakes of DHA and ARA during early life.