Abstract
EPA and DHA are required for normal cell function and can also induce health benefits. Oily fish are the main source of EPA and DHA for human consumption. However, food choices and concerns about the sustainability of marine fish stocks limit the effectiveness of dietary recommendations for EPA + DHA intakes. Seed oils from transgenic plants that contain EPA + DHA are a potential alternative source of EPA and DHA. The present study investigated whether dietary supplementation with transgenic Camelina sativa seed oil (CSO) that contained EPA and DHA was as effective as fish oil (FO) in increasing EPA and DHA concentrations when consumed as a dietary supplement in a blinded crossover study. Healthy men and women (n 31; age 53 (range 20-74) years) were randomised to consume 450 mg/d EPA + DHA provided either as either CSO or FO for 8 weeks, followed by 6 weeks washout and then switched to consuming the other test oil. Fasting venous blood samples were collected at the start and end of each supplementation period. Consuming the test oils significantly (P < 0·05) increased EPA and DHA concentrations in plasma TAG, phosphatidylcholine and cholesteryl esters. There were no significant differences between test oils in the increments of EPA and DHA. There was no significant difference between test oils in the increase in the proportion of erythrocyte EPA + DHA (CSO, 12 %; P < 0·0001 and FO, 8 %; P = 0·02). Together, these findings show that consuming CSO is as effective as FO for increasing EPA and DHA concentrations in humans.
Highlights
Humans are able to synthesise some EPA and DHA from the essential fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18 : 3n-3) found in vegetable oils, the activity of this pathway is low and its contribution to meeting demands is not known[6]
The findings showed that there was no significant differences in men and women aged 18–30 years or 50–65 years in the postprandial incorporation of EPA and DHA into blood lipids between fish oils (FO) and transgenic C. sativa seed oil (CSO) that both contained approximately 12 % EPA and 9·5 % DHA[14]
The findings of this study show that consumption of EPA and DHA from CSO was as effective as FO in increasing the concentrations of EPA and DHA in plasma lipids and in erythrocytes
Summary
Humans are able to synthesise some EPA and DHA from the essential fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18 : 3n-3) found in vegetable oils, the activity of this pathway is low and its contribution to meeting demands is not known[6]. In addition to the limited compliance to recommendations for EPA þ DHA by the UK population, consumption of oily fish and, in particular, the production of fish oils (FO) represent a substantial demand on marine ecosystems. Vegetable oils that the contain ALA are unlikely to be an effective means of meeting the demands for EPA and DHA in humans because of low capacity for ALA interconversion[6]. Genetic modification of oil seed plants is potentially a sustainable means of producing EPA and DHA for human consumption that is consistent with dietary choices that exclude animal-derived foods and does not incur concerns about environmental contaminants or palatability. The acute bioavailability of EPA and DHA in humans when consumed as the seed oil from a transgenic plant has only been tested for this one transgenic C. sativa strain.
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