Beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on leaky gut, inflammation and oxidative stress in propionic acid-induced autism in aged rats.

Fatty acids and bipolar disorder

Paola Bozzatello et al. [1] have done a comprehensive qualitative review of the potential use of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders.[...].

Aging induces degenerative processes in the body, contributing to the onset of various age-associated diseases that affect the population. Inadequate dietary habits and low physical activity are major contributors to increased morbidity during aging. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and physical activity on the markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in aged male Wistar rats (23-24 months). The rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: a sedentary control (placebo, no exercise), a trained (placebo and moderate-intensity graded aerobic exercise; Ex), and two trained groups supplemented with low (160 mg/kg of body weight; O1 + Ex) and high (320 mg/kg of body weight; O2 + Ex) doses of omega-3 fatty acids. The biochemical and functional parameters related to sarcopenia and the markers of oxidative stress were measured in blood and gastrocnemius muscle. The results demonstrated dose-dependent, synergistic effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and physical activity. The higher dose (320 mg/kg of body weight) improved plasma antioxidant capacity (TEAC, +21.01%, p < 0.01) and GPx activity (+78.05%, p < 0.05) while reducing CAT activity in erythrocytes (-19.92%, p < 0.05), likely as an adaptive stress response. Combined interventions also normalized cholesterol levels, improved the functional parameters of sarcopenia (stride length, +14.82%, p < 0.001), and enhanced antioxidant protection in aged rats. These findings highlight the potential of combining omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and physical activity to counteract aging-related degenerative changes. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and evaluate the long-term benefits of these strategies in aging populations.

BACKGROUNDCardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in Iranian people. Inflammation and oxidative processes are key components of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and omega-3 fatty acid (ω-3 fatty acids) supplementation on inflammation markers and oxidative stress in atherosclerotic patients.METHODSThis study was a two-month clinical, randomized trial. 90 volunteers who referred to Emam Reza Heart Clinic of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran) from February to March 2011 and had the inclusion criteria of this study were selected. Participants were classified into 3 groups receiving 3 g/d CLA, 1920 mg/d ω-3, or placebo for 2 months. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured before and after supplementation.RESULTSThe hs-CRP level decreased significantly in both the omega-3 and CLA group (P < 0.05). IL-6 reduced significantly in the ω-3 group, but the reduction of IL-6 levels in the CLA group was not significant. GPx increased in the CLA and omega-3 groups (P < 0.05). MDA level decreased significantly in both omega-3 and CLA groups (P < 0.05). Comparison between the groups indicates a significant change in CRP levels in the ω-3 group relative to the control group. However, other indices did not cause any significant change in the ω-3 and CLA groups in comparison to the control group.CONCLUSIONDiet supplementation with CLA and ω-3 can have a beneficial effect on some indices of inflammatory and oxidative stress.

Effects of postnatal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on offspring pro-resolving mediators of inflammation at 6 months and 5 years of age: A double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial

Obesity is a complex metabolic disease that does not have an effective treatment. It has been demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial to metabolism, but little is known about their effects in the gut. This study evaluated the effects of omega-3 supplementation in metabolic and intestinal changes caused by obesity. Obesity was induced by a high fat diet (HFD) for 20weeks in 40 rats. At 16th week, the animals were divided into 4 groups: standard diet (SD); SD+omega-3; HFD; and HFD+omega-3. Omega-3 groups were supplemented with omega-3 (1g/Kg) daily, for 4weeks. Food intake, biochemical parameters in the plasma, and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the gut were evaluated. HFD+omega-3 group had a decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL compared to the HFD group. In the gut, omega-3 supplementation reduced reactive oxygen species production, lipoperoxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, NFκB activation and TNFα production. These results demonstrate that omega-3 supplementation plays a beneficial role in metabolic parameters and is able to decrease oxidative stress and intestinal inflammation in obese rats. Thus, omega-3 supplementation could be a useful tool in the treatment of obesity.

The high incidence of cardiovascular disease and vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease patients is well known. Vitamin D activation by omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation may explain the cardioprotective effects exerted by omega-3 FA. We hypothesized that omega-3 FA and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) supplementation may increase 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) levels compared to 25(OH)D supplementation alone in hemodialysis (HD) patients that have insufficient or deficient 25(OH)D levels. We enrolled patients that were treated for at least six months with 25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL (NCT01596842). Patients were randomized to treatment for 12 weeks with cholecalciferol supplemented with omega-3 FA or a placebo. Levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D were measured after 12 weeks. The erythrocyte membrane FA contents were also measured. Levels of 25(OH)D were increased in both groups at 12 weeks compared to baseline. The 1,25(OH)2D levels at 12 weeks compared to baseline showed a tendency to increase in the omega-3 FA group. The oleic acid and monounsaturated FA content decreased, while the omega-3 index increased in the omega-3 FA group. Omega-3 FA supplementation may be partly associated with vitamin D activation, although increased 25(OH)D levels caused by short-term cholecalciferol supplementation were not associated with vitamin D activation in HD patients.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects 6 weeks of chronic omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) supplementation (3 g EPA, 2 g DHA) on oxygen uptake and muscle extraction kinetics during constant load cycling in normoxic and normobaric hypoxic conditions. METHODS: 13 endurance trained cyclists were divided into two groups, O3FA (n = 6, VO2max = 60.2 ± 4.5 ml·kg-1·min-1), and placebo (n= 7, VO2max = 66.2 ± 4.1 ml·kg-1·min-1). Subjects completed an incremental exercise protocol to determine maximal oxygen consumption and maximal power output on a magnetically-braked cycle ergometer. In subsequent sessions, subjects completed three minutes of a constant load cycling test at 75% of normoxic peak power at simulated altitude (FIO2= 15.0%) and at sea-level (FIO2 = 20.9%), prior to 6 weeks of supplementation (baseline) with either O3FA or placebo. Following supplementation, subjects repeated the normoxic and hypoxic constant-load cycle exercise bouts. Breath-by-breath VO2 was measured continuously, and skeletal muscle deoxygenation (deoxygenated hemoglobin+myoglobin [HHb] via near-infrared spectroscopy [NIRS]) were measured. Kinetic time constant was calculated as time to 63% of primary component response (HHb-τ1 and VO2- τ1). RESULTS: Chronic O3FA supplementation improved the VO2 uptake response time (VO2- τ1 = 21.3 ± 6.4s post-supplementation; 31.6 ± 6.2s pre-supplementation; p < 0.05) during exercise in normoxia, with no changes in the placebo group pre- to post-supplementation. VO2 primary component amplitude was lower in the O3FA group (3.19 ± 0.60 L/min post-supplementation; 3.44 ± 0.60 L/min pre-supplementation; p < 0.05) in normoxia, following supplementation. There were no significant differences in any of the [HHb] parameters during normoxic exercise in either group. There were no significant differences in any of the [HHb] or VO2 parameters during hypoxic exercise between pre- and post-supplementation in either group. CONCULUSION: 6 weeks of O3FA supplementation is beneficial in improving oxygen uptake kinetics during heavy exercise in normoxic conditions, thus may lead to improvements in exercise tolerance to constant heavy load exercise. However, no improvements were seen in [HHb] or oxygen uptake kinetics in hypoxia following O3FA supplementation.

Influencing mitochondrial membrane composition and bioenergetics through omega-3 supplementation.

Metabolic response to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with diabetic nephropathy: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos da suplementação com ácidos graxos ômega-3, nas doses de 0,5 e 1,0g/kg/dia, nos lipídeos sangüíneos de ratos submetidos ou não ao protocolo do nado. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar foram divididos em grupos: controle, controle+nado, ácidos graxos ômega-3 e ácidos graxos ômega-3+nado. Os ácidos graxos ômega-3 e ácidos graxos ômega-3+nado receberam suplementação; os demais receberam água por gavagem. Os controle+nado e ácidos graxos ômega-3+nado foram submetidos ao exercício. Foram avaliadas as concentrações plasmáticas de colesterol total, triglicérides e lipoproteína de alta densidade, antes e após os procedimentos experimentais. RESULTADOS: No protocolo de 0,5g/kg/dia, em relação às concentrações de colesterol total, foi observada redução significativa proporcionalmente maior no grupo ácidos graxos ômega-3+nado, apesar de o grupo controle+nado e o ácidos graxos ômega-3 também terem apresentado diminuição. No ensaio de 1,0g/kg/dia todos os grupos apresentaram uma diminuição que foi maior, respectivamente, no ácidos graxos ômega-3+nado e, a seguir, no ácidos graxos ômega-3. Quanto aos triglicérides, foram encontradas reduções em todos os grupos experimentais, que foi maior no grupo ácidos graxos ômega-3+nado, do protocolo de 0,5g/kg/dia, enquanto que no de 1,0g/kg/dia a diminuição foi significativa apenas nos grupos ácidos graxos ômega-3 e ácidos graxos ômega-3+nado. Quanto ao HDL, no protocolo de 0,5g/kg/dia foi encontrado aumento nos animais que não foram suplementados, enquanto que em todos os grupos de 1,0g/kg/dia houve uma diminuição do HDL. CONCLUSÃO: A suplementação com ácidos graxos ômega-3 nas doses 0,5 ou 1,0g/kg/dia, associada ao nado, reduzem as concentrações plasmáticas de colesterol total e triglcérides, mas estudos adicionais, também com outras doses, são necessários para a compreensão da relação entre a ingestão de óleo de peixe e as concentrações de lipídeos sangüíneos.

Change of heart: Mixed evidence on omega-3 FAs

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements in Reducing Vaso-Occlusive Crisis Hospitalizations in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

Smoking-induced oxidative stress is thought to contribute to lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and brain tissue. This lower level leads to impaired function in a dopaminergic system related to dependence and craving. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cigarette craving and oxidative stress index in heavy-smoker males. In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 54 heavy-smoker males (smoke ⩾20 cigarettes per day) were randomly selected to receive either five capsules of fish-oil-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplements ( n = 27, each 1 g capsule containing 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg of docosahexanoic acid) or a placebo ( n = 27) for 3 months. The psychometric evaluations (nicotine dependence and cigarette craving), biochemical markers (urinary cotinine, serum total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status) and self-reported smoking status were used to assess the cigarette craving and oxidative stress index (oxidative stress index = total oxidant status/total antioxidant capacity). There was a greater reduction in levels of nicotine dependence, cigarette craving and cigarettes smoked per day in the omega-3 fatty acid group compared to the placebo group, and the difference between the two groups increased from baseline to 3-month follow up. The model estimated that these differences were statistically significant ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Also, a significant decrease was observed in levels of total oxidant status ( p = 0.008) and oxidative stress index ( p = 0.011) in the omega-3 fatty acid group after intervention. This study showed that high-dose omega-3 fatty acid supplementation appears to be useful in reducing cigarette craving and oxidative stress index in heavy-smoker males.

Vasculoprotective Effects of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Treatment in Aging