Enhanced incorporation of n−3 fatty acids from fish compared with fish oils

This work was undertaken to study the impact of the source of n−3 FA on their incorporation in serum, on blood lipid composition, and on cellular activation. A clinical trial comprising 71 volunteers, divided into five groups, was performed. Three groups were given 400 g smoked salmon (n=14), cooked salmon (n=15), or cooked cod (n=13) per week for 8 wk. A fourth group was given 15 mL/d of cod liver oil (CLO) (n=15), and a fifth group served as control (n=14) without supplementation. The serum content of EPA and DHA before and after intervention revealed a higher rise in EPA and DHA in the cooked salmon group (129% rise in EPA and 45% rise in DHA) as compared with CLO (106 and 25%, respectively) despite an intake of EPA and DHA in the CLO group of 3.0 g/d compared with 1.2 g/d in the cooked salmon group. No significant changes were observed in blood lipids, fibrinogen, fibrinolysis, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor (TF) activity, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-8 (IL-8), leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄), and thromboxane B₂ (TxB₂) in whole blood. EPA and DHA were negatively correlated with LPS-induced TNFα, IL-8, LTB₄, TxB₂, and TF in whole blood. In conclusion, fish consumption is more effective in increasing serum EPA and DHA than supplementing the diet with fish oil. Since the n−3 FA are predominantly in TAG in fish as well as CLO, it is suggested that the larger uptake from fish than CLO is due to differences in physiochemical structure of the lipids.     

Maternal fish oil supplementation in lactation: Effect on visual acuity and n−3 fatty acid content of infant erythrocytes

Studies on formula-fed infants indicate a beneficial effect of dietary DHA on visual acuity. Cross-sectional studies have shown an association between breast-milk DHA levels and visual acuity in breast-fed infants. The objective in this study was to evaluate the biochemical and functional effects of fish oil (FO) supplements in lactating mothers. In this double-blinded randomized trial, Danish mothers with habitual fish intake below the 50th percentile of the Danish National Birth Cohort were randomized to microencapsulated FO [1.3 g/d long-chain n−3 FA (n−3 LCPUFA)] or olive oil (OO). The intervention started within a week after delivery and lasted 4 mon. Mothers with habitual high fish intake and their infants were included as a reference group. Ninety-seven infants completed the trial (44 OO-group, 53 FO-group) and 47 reference infants were followed up. The primary outcome measures were: DHA content of milk samples (0, 2, and 4 mon postnatal) and of infant red blood cell (RBC) membranes (4 mon postnatal), and infant visual acuity (measured by swept visual evoked potential at 2 and 4 mon of age). FO supplementation gave rise to a threefold increase in the DHA content of the 4-mon milk samples (P<0.001). DHA in infant RBC reflected milk contents (r=0.564, P<0.001) and was increased by almost 50% (P<0.001). Infant visual acuity was not significantly different in the randomized groups but was positively associated at 4 mon with infant RBC-DHA (P=0.004, multiple regression). We concluded that maternal FO supplementation during lactation did not enhance visual acuity of the infants who completed the intervention. However, the results showed that infants with higher RBC levels of n−3 LCPUFA had a better visual acuity at 4 mon of age, suggesting that n−3 LCPUFA may influence visual maturation.     

Enrichment of diterpenes in green coffee oil using supercritical fluid extraction – Characterization and comparison with green coffee oil from pressing

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to obtain green coffee oil (Coffea arabica, cv. Yellow Catuaí) enriched in the diterpenes, cafestol and kahweol. To obtain diterpenes-enriched green coffee oil relevant for pharmaceuticals, a central composite rotational design (CCRD) was used to optimize the extraction process. In this study, pressure and temperature did not have influences on cafestol and kahweol concentrations, but did affect the total phenolic content (TPC), which ranged from 0.62 to 2.62 mg GAE/g of the oil. The analysis and quantification of diterpenes according to gas chromatography indicated that green coffee oil from SFE presented a cafestol content of 50.2 and a kahweol content of 63.8 g/kg green coffee oil under optimal conditions. The green coffee oil produced from conventional pressing methods presented lower diterpenes content of 7.5 and 12.8 g/kg green coffee oil for cafestol and kahweol, respectively. When SFE was used, the content of the diterpenes in the same green coffee beans was relatively higher, approximately 85% for cafestol and 80% for kahweol. Green coffee oil from SFE also presented fatty acids, such as palmitic acid (9.3 mg MAE/g green coffee oil), the polyunsaturated linoleic acid (ω-6; 11 mg MAE/g green coffee oil) and oleic acid (ω-9; 3.8 mg MAE/g green coffee oil). The physical properties for green coffee oil produced from SFE and conventional pressings showed that densities and viscosities decreased with temperature. For oils produced from both extractions, the density behaviors were similar with values ranging from 0.9419 g/cm³ (25 °C) to 0.9214 g/cm³ (55 °C) from pressings and 0.9365 g/cm³ (25 °C) to 0.9157 g/cm³ (55 °C) for the oil obtained by the SFE. The dynamic viscosity for the pressed oil ranged from 127.8798 mPa × s (25 °C) to 35.0510 mPa × s (55 °C); for the oil from SFE, these lower values ranged from 84.0411 mPa × s (25 °C) and 24.2555 mPa × s (55 °C).     

A biomarker of n−3 compliance in patients taking fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis

Dietary fish oil supplements have been shown to have benefits in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other inflammatory diseases, and in cardiovascular disease. As with any medical advice, variability will exist with regard to adherence and consequent biochemical or pharmacophysiologic effects. The aim was to explore the utility of plasma phospholipid EPA as a measure of n−3 PUFA intake and response to standardized therapeutic advice given in an outpatient or office practice setting, to increase dietary n−3 PUFA, including a fish oil supplement. Patients with early RA were given verbal and written advice to alter their dietary n−3 PUFA intake, including ingestion of 20 mL of bottled fish oil on juice daily. The advice included instructions to increase n−3 PUFA and to avoid foods rich in n−6 PUFA. Every 3 mon, blood samples were obtained for analysis of plasma phospholipid FA. Plasma phospholipid EPA was used as the primary index of n−3 PUFA intake. A diverse response was seen, with about one-third of patients achieving a substantial elevation of plasma phospholipid EPA over the 12-mon study period. A third had little change, with the remainder achieving intermediate levels. Data obtained longitudinally from individual patients indicated that substantial elevations of EPA (>5% total plasma phospholipid FA) could be maintained for more than 3 yr. Plasma phospholipid EPA is a convenient measure of adherence to advice to take a dietary n−3 PUFA-rich fish oil supplement. This measure may prove a useful adjunct to intention to treat analyses in determining the effect of dietary fish oil supplements on long-term outcomes in arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. It may also provide a guide to the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive messages designed to increase n−3 PUFA intake.     

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of fish oil supplementation in late pregnancy and early lactation on the n−3 fatty acid content in human breast milk

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of fish oil supplementation, in the third trimester of pregnancy and early lactation period of healthy pregnant Danish women. Forty-four pregnant women were randomly allocated to fish oil supplementation (1.3 g EPA and 0.9 g DHA per day) from week 30 of gestation (FO-group) or to a control regimen (olive oil or no oil; controls). The FO-group was randomly subdivided into women stopping fish oil supplementation at delivery [FO(pregn)], and women continuing supplementation for an, additional 30 d [FO(pregn/lact)]. Thirty-six women agreed to collect milk samples at days 4, 16, and 30 postpartum. The FA composition of the milk samples was determined by GLC. At days 4, 16, and 30 in lactation, FO(pregn/lact) women (n=12) had, respectively 2.3 (P=0.001), 4.1 (P=0.001), and 3.3 (P=0.001) times higher mean contents of LCPUFA(n−3) in their breast milk compared with controls (n=13), and 1.7 (P=0.005), 2.8 (P=0.001), and 2.8 (P=0.001), times higher LCPUFA(n−3) contents, respectively, at these days compared with FO(pregn) women (n=11). The latter group did not differ significantly from controls with regard to LCPUFA(n−3) content in the breast milk. Similar results were obtained when analyzing separately for effects on the milk content of DHA. Dietary supplementation with 2.7 g LCPUFA(n−3) per day from week 30 of gestation and onward more than tripled the LCPUFA(n−3) content in early breast milk; supplementation limited to pregnancy only was much less effective.     

Enrichment of hazelnut oil with long-chain n−3 PUFA by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis: Optimization by response surface methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine optimal conditions for the lipase-catalyzed enrichment of hazelnut oil by incorporating n−3 PUFA from menhaden oil. A four-factor, five-level central composite design was used, and hazelnut oil containing n−3 PUFA was successfully produced. The effects of incubation time, temperature, substrate molar ratio, and water content on the incorporation ratio were investigated. From the evaluation of response surface graphs, the optimal conditions for incorporation of long-chain n−3 PUFA into hazelnut oil were identified as 45–60°C for temperature, 30–40 h for reaction time, 1∶1–2∶1 (mol hazelnut oil/mol menhaden oil concentrate) for substrate molar ratio, and 3–5% (w/w) for water content. Experiments conducted at optimized conditions predicted by the model equation obtained from RSM yielded structured lipids with 19.6% n−3 PUFA. This value agreed well with that predicted by the model. This structured lipid containing PUFA may be nutritionally more beneficial than unmodified hazelnut oil.     

Effects of high-γ-linolenic acid canola oil compared with borage oil on reproduction,growth, and brain and behavioral development in mice

Previous research in rats and mice has suggested that γ-linolenic acid (GLA) derived from borage oil (BO: 23% GLA) may be an appropriate source for increasing levels of long-chain n−6 FA in the developing brain. Recently, transgenic technology has made available a highly enriched GLA seed oil from the canola plant (HGCO: 36% GLA). The first objective of this study was to compare the effects of diets containing equal levels of GLA (23%) from either BO or HGCO on reproduction, pup development, and pup brain FA composition in mice. The second objective was to compare the effects of the HGCO diluted to 23% GLA (GLA-23) with those of undiluted HGCO containing 36% GLA (GLA-36). The diets were fed to the dams prior to conception and throughout pregnancy and lactation, as well as to the pups after weaning. The behavioral development of the pups was measured 12 d after birth, and anxiety in the adult male offspring was assessed using the plus maze. The findings show that despite equivalent levels of GLA, GLA-23 differed from BO in that it reduced pup body weight and was associated with a slight increase in neonatal pup attrition. However, there were no significant effects on pup behavioral development or on performance in the plus maze. An increase in dietary GLA resulted in an increase in brain 20∶4n−6 and 22∶4n−6, with a corresponding decrease in 22∶6n−3. Again, despite their similar levels of GLA, these effects tended to be larger in GLA-23 than in BO. In comparison with GLA-23, GLA-36 had larger effects on growth and brain FA composition but no differences with respect to effects on reproduction and behavioral development. These findings suggest that the HGCO can be used as an alternative source of GLA.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of saturated fatty acids and of n−6 or n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on plasma and red blood cell membrane phospholipids and deformability in weanling guinea pigs

The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesteryl esters, plasma phospholipids, red blood cell (RBC) membrane phosphatidylcholine (corresponding to the outer membrane leaflet), and phosphatidylethanolamine (corresponding to the inner membrane leaflet) was investigated in weanling guinea pigs fed with diets of cacao (saturated fatty acids), sunflower oil [n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)] or fish oil (n−3 PUFA) for 20 wk. RBC deformation was measured by means of a cell-transit analyzer (filtration) and a cone-plate rheoscope. The contents of saturated fatty acids in plasma phospholipids and RBC membrane leaflets were similar in all three groups. Diets with sunflower oil resulted in a high content of linoleic acid in plasma cholesteryl esters and in the outer leaflet of RBC membranes. Fatty acids of fish oil were mainly incorporated in plasma phospholipids and in the inner leaflet of RBC membranes. The arachidonic acid content was high in all groups in the plasma phospholipids and in the inner leaflet. The n−6 and n−3 PUFA were mainly incorporated in the inner leaflet. In all groups the polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio and the total PUFA content were similar in the inner RBC membrane. The RBC filtration times and the RBC deformation indices were not affected by the dietary treatment.     

Treatment with Ar–O2 low-pressure plasma of vulcanized rubber sole containing noticeable amount of processing oils for improving adhesion to upper in shoe industry

Vulcanized rubber (L3 rubber) containing intentionally noticeable excess of processing oils in its formulation was treated with Argon–Oxygen (Ar–O₂) (2:1, vol/vol) low-pressure (LP) plasma for achieving a satisfactory level of adhesion to waterborne polyurethane adhesive. The effectiveness of the Ar–O₂ LP plasma treatment of L3 rubber depended on both the configuration of the plasma chamber shelves and the treatment time. Surface modifications were assessed by attenuated total reflectance-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. Ar–O₂ LP plasma treatment in direct configuration provided the most effective surface modification of the L3 rubber, and the increase in the treatment time improved the extent of the surface modifications. However, even important surface modifications were produced by Ar–O₂ LP plasma treatment, adhesion of treated L3 rubber was not improved due to the creation of weak boundary layer at the polyurethane–rubber interface after joint formation. Heating at 80 °C for 12 h of the as-received L3 rubber prior to Ar–O₂ LP plasma treatment enhanced the extent of the surface modifications, and improved adhesion was obtained for Ar–O₂ LP plasma treatment times higher than 600 s.     

Spectrophotometric Study of Interaction with Water of Barley Seeds after Their Colloid Treatment in Silica Sols with γ-Fe2O3 Nanopowders

Glass Physics and Chemistry - It is shown that the deposition of silica sol shells on the surface of barley seeds based on hydrolyzed tetraethoxysilane with the addition of γ-Fe2O3 (maghemite)...     

Influence of dietary supplementation with long-chain n−3 or n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on blood inflammatory cell populations and functions and on plasma soluble adhesion molecules in healthy adults

Greatly increasing the amounts of flaxseed oil [rich in α-linolenic acid (ALNA)] or fish oil (FO); [rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] in the diet can decrease inflammatory cell functions and so might impair host defense. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with moderate levels of ALNA, γ-linolenic acid (GLA), arachidonic acid (ARA), DHA, or FO on inflammatory cell numbers and functions and on circulating levels of soluble adhesion molecules. Healthy subjects aged 55 to 75 yr consumed nine capsules per day for 12 wk. The capsules contained placebo oil (an 80∶20 mix of palm and sunflowerseed oils) or blends of placebo oil with oils rich in ALNA, GLA, ARA, or DHA or FO. Subjects in these groups consumed 2 g ALNA; approximately 700 mg GLA, ARA, or DHA; or 1 g EPA plus DHA (720 mg EPA+280 mg DHA) daily from the capsules. Total fat intake from the capsules was 4 g per day. None of the treatments affected inflammatory cell numbers in the bloodstream; neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis or respiratory burst in response to E. coli; production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide; or plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1. In contrast, the ALNA and FO treatments decreased the plasma concentrations of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (16 and 28% decrease, respectively) and soluble E-selectin (23 and 17% decrease, respectively). It is concluded that, in contrast to previous reports using higher amounts of these fatty acids, a moderate increase in consumption of long-chain n−6 or n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids does not significantly affect inflammatory cell numbers or neutrophil and monocyte responses in humans and so would not be expected to cause immune impairment. Furthermore, we conclude that moderate levels of ALNA and FO, which could be incorporated into the diet, can decrease some markers of endothelial activation and that this mechanism of action may contribute to the reported health benefits of n−3 fatty acids.     

n−3 and n−6 fatty acid enrichment by dietary fish oil and phospholipid sources in brain cortical areas and nonneural tissues of formula-fed piglets

Sufficient availability of both n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) is required for optimal structural and functional development in infancy. The question has been raised as to whether infant formulae would benefit from enrichment with 20 and 22 carbon fatty acids. To address this issue, we determined the effect of fish oil and phospholipid (LCPUFA) sources on the fatty acid composition of brain cortical areas and nonneural tissues of newborn piglets fed artificially for 2 wk. They were fed sow milk, a control formula, or the formula enriched with n-3 fatty acids from a low-20:5n-3 fish oil added at a high or a low concentration, or the formula enriched with n-3 and n-6 fatty acids from either egg yolk- or pig brain-phospholipids. Both the fish oil- and the phospholipid-enriched formula produced significantly higher plasma phospholipid 22:6n-3 concentrations than did the control formula. The 22:6n-3 levels in the brain, hepatic, and intestinal phospholipids were significantly correlated with plasma values, whereas cardiac 22:6n-3 content appeared to follow a saturable dose-response. Feeding sow milk resulted in a much higher 20:4n-6 content in nonneural tissues than did feeding formula. Supplementation with egg phospholipid increased the 20:4n-6 content in the heart, red blood cells, plasma, and intestine in comparison to the control formula, while pig brain phospholipids exerted this effect in the heart only. The addition of 4.5% fish oil in the formula was associated with a decline in 20:4n-6 in the cortex, cerebellum, heart, liver, and plasma phospholipids, whereas using this source at 1.5% limited the decline to the cerebellum, liver, and plasma. Whatever the dietary treatment, the phosphatidylethanolamine 20:4n-6 level was 10–20% higher in the brain temporal lobe than in the parietal, frontal, and occipital lobes in the temporal lobe by administering the formula enriched with egg or brain phospholipids. In conclusion, feeding egg phospholipids to neonatal pigs increased both the 22:6n-3 content in the brain and the 20:4n-6 content in the temporal lobe cortex. This source also increased the 22:6n-3 levels in nonneural tissues with only minor alterations of 20:4n-6. These data support the notion that infant formulae should be supplemented with both 22:6n-3 and 20:4n-6 rather than with 22:6n-3 alone.     

A Study of the Acid–Base Properties of Melts in the Na2O–B2O3–SiO2 System: II. Composition Joins with Sodium Oxide Contents of 25, 30, and 35 mol %

The exponent of oxygen ion activity pO = for melts in the Na₂O–B₂O₃–SiO₂ system along the composition joins with constant sodium oxide contents of 25, 30, and 35 mol % is studied by an electromotive force (emf) technique at 950°C. Measurements are performed using two variants of the technique of determining pO, namely, in high-temperature salt solutions of oxide systems in KF and with a salt bridge between two oxide melts. It is shown that the basicity of melts increases with an increase in the Na₂O content at a constant concentration ratio of glass-forming oxides. The acid–base properties of sodium borosilicate melts are simulated under the assumption of acid–base interaction between the components. It is found that the basicity of the studied melts along the composition joins with constant sodium oxide contents of 30 and 35 mol % is governed primarily by the acid–base interaction in Na₂O–B₂O₃ and Na₂O–SiO₂ binary systems and, to a lesser extent as compared to low-alkali composition joins (below 20 mol % Na₂O), by the formation of Na₂O · B₂O₃ · 2SiO₂ and Na₂O · B₂O₃ · 6SiO₂ ternary compounds.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of rapeseed oil on metabolism of [1-<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]18∶1n−9, [1-<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]20∶3n−6, and [1-<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]20∶4n−3 in atlantic salmon heaptocytes

Atlantic salmon were fed fish meal-based diets supplemented with either 100% fish oil (FO) or 100% rapeseed oil (RO) from an initial weight of 85 g to a final average weight of 280 g. The effects of these diets on the capacity of Atlantic salmon hepatocytes to elogate, desaturate, and esterify [1-¹⁴C]18∶1n−9 and the immediate substrates for the Δ⁵ desaturase, [1-¹⁴C]20∶3 n−6 and [1-¹⁴C]20∶4n−3, were investigated. Radiolabeled 18∶1n−9 was mainly esterified into cellular TAG, whereas the more polyunsaturated FA, [1-¹⁴C]20∶3n−6 and [1-¹⁴C]20∶4n−3, were primarily esterified into cellular PL. More of the elongation product, [1-¹⁴C]20∶1n−9, was produced from 18∶1n−9 and more of the desaturation and elongation products, 22∶5n−6 and 22∶6n−3, were produced from [1-¹⁴C]20∶3n−6 and [1-¹⁴C]20∶4n−3, respectively, in RO hepatocytes than in FO hepatocytes. Further, we studied whether increased addition of [1-¹⁴C]18∶1n−9 to the hepatocyte culture media would affect the capacity of hepatocytes to oxidize 18∶1n−9 to acid-soluble products and CO₂. An increase in exogenous concentration of 18∶1n−9 from 7 to 100 μM resulted in a nearly twofold increase in the amount of 18∶1n−9 that was oxidized. The conversion of 20∶4n−3 and 20∶3n−6 to the longer-chain 22∶6n−3 and 22∶5n−6 was enhanced by RO feeding in Atlantic salmon hepatocytes. The increased capacity of RO hepatocytes to produce 22∶6n−3 was, however, not enought to achieve the levels found in FO hepatocytes. Our data further showed that there were no differences in the hepatocyte FA oxidation capacity and the lipid deposition of carcass and liver between the two groups.