Abstract
The “Western diet” is characterized by increased intake of saturated and omega-6 (n−6) fatty acids with a relative reduction in omega-3 (n−3) consumption. These fatty acids can directly and indirectly modulate the gut microbiome, resulting in altered host immunity. Omega-3 fatty acids can also directly modulate immunity through alterations in the phospholipid membranes of immune cells, inhibition of n−6 induced inflammation, down-regulation of inflammatory transcription factors, and by serving as pre-cursors to anti-inflammatory lipid mediators such as resolvins and protectins. We have previously shown that consumption by breeder mice of diets high in saturated and n−6 fatty acids have inflammatory and immune-modulating effects on offspring that are at least partially driven by vertical transmission of altered gut microbiota. To determine if parental diets high in n−3 fatty acids could also affect offspring microbiome and immunity, we fed breeding mice an n−3-rich diet with 40% calories from fat and measured immune outcomes in their offspring. We found offspring from mice fed diets high in n−3 had altered gut microbiomes and modestly enhanced anti-inflammatory IL-10 from both colonic and splenic tissue. Omega-3 pups were protected during peanut oral allergy challenge with small but measurable alterations in peanut-related serologies. However, n−3 pups displayed a tendency toward worsened responses during E. coli sepsis and had significantly worse outcomes during Staphylococcus aureus skin infection. Our results indicate excess parental n−3 fatty acid intake alters microbiome and immune response in offspring.
Highlights
The modern ‘Western diet’, characterized by increased intake of saturated dietary fat and refined sugar, is correlated with inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases [1]
Compared to offspring of mice fed a standard diet, we show that offspring of mice fed a high n23 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) diet had an altered microbiome and decreased inflammatory responses in models of allergy and infection
In our previously published study, pups from breeders fed the Western diet had dramatic shifts in their gut microbiome compared to pups from mice fed a standard low fat diet [13]
Summary
The modern ‘Western diet’, characterized by increased intake of saturated dietary fat and refined sugar, is correlated with inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases [1]. PUFA influence the inflammatory response, with n26 PUFA generally associated with pro-inflammatory effects [3,4] and n23 PUFA generally associated with antiinflammatory effects [3,4,5]. This raises the possibility of dietary supplementation with n23 PUFA, such as in fish oil, as an effective treatment for inflammatory diseases [3,4,6,7]. There is evidence that n23 PUFA are important during development, and that maternal intake during pregnancy protects against the development of allergic and inflammatory disease in infants and children [2] and improves pregnancy outcomes [8]
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