Postprandial incorporation of EPA and DHA from transgenic Camelina sativa oil into blood lipids is equivalent to that from fish oil in healthy humans.

Annette L West,Graham C Burdge,Olga Sayanova,Elizabeth A Miles,Philip C Calder,Lihua Han,Karen A Lillycrop,Johnathan A Napier

doi:10.1017/s0007114519000825

Abstract

EPA and DHA are important components of cell membranes. Since humans have limited ability for EPA and DHA synthesis, these must be obtained from the diet, primarily from oily fish. Dietary EPA and DHA intakes are constrained by the size of fish stocks and by food choice. Seed oil from transgenic plants that synthesise EPA and DHA represents a potential alternative source of these fatty acids, but this has not been tested in humans. We hypothesised that incorporation of EPA and DHA into blood lipids from transgenic Camelina sativa seed oil (CSO) is equivalent to that from fish oil. Healthy men and women (18-30 years or 50-65 years) consumed 450 mg EPA + DHA from either CSO or commercial blended fish oil (BFO) in test meals in a double-blind, postprandial cross-over trial. There were no significant differences between test oils or sexes in EPA and DHA incorporation into plasma TAG, phosphatidylcholine or NEFA over 8 h. There were no significant differences between test oils, age groups or sexes in postprandial VLDL, LDL or HDL sizes or concentrations. There were no significant differences between test oils in postprandial plasma TNFα, IL 6 or 10, or soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentrations in younger participants. These findings show that incorporation into blood lipids of EPA and DHA consumed as CSO was equivalent to BFO and that such transgenic plant oils are a suitable dietary source of EPA and DHA in humans.

Highlights

Adequate consumption of n-3 PUFA derived from marine oily fish, EPA and DHA, is important for development[1] and for maintaining health across the life course[2]
We hypothesised that incorporation of EPA and DHA into blood lipids from transgenic Camelina sativa seed oil (CSO) is equivalent to that from fish oil
These findings show that incorporation into blood lipids of EPA and DHA consumed as CSO was equivalent to blended fish oil (BFO) and that such transgenic plant oils are a suitable dietary source of EPA and DHA in humans

Summary

Introduction

Adequate consumption of n-3 PUFA derived from marine oily fish, EPA and DHA, is important for development[1] and for maintaining health across the life course[2]. Adoption of dietary choices that exclude all meat, dairy foods and fish, which are important sources of EPA and DHA in the diet[7,8]. The potential effectiveness of recommendations for EPA þ DHA intakes is constrained further by the size of marine sources of these fatty acids. Studies involving stable isotope tracers show that capacity for synthesis of EPA and, especially DHA, is very limited in humans[11], greater in women than men[12,13]. These findings are supported by those from dietary

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Conclusion