The role of FADS1/2 polymorphisms on cardiometabolic markers and fatty acid profiles in young adults consuming fish oil supplements.

Kaitlin Roke,David Mutch

doi:10.3390/nu6062290

Abstract

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FAs) known to influence cardiometabolic markers of health. Evidence suggests that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the fatty acid desaturase 1 and 2 (FADS1/2) gene cluster may influence an individual’s response to n-3 FAs. This study examined the impact of a moderate daily dose of EPA and DHA fish oil supplements on cardiometabolic markers, FA levels in serum and red blood cells (RBC), and whether these endpoints were influenced by SNPs in FADS1/2. Young adults consumed fish oil supplements (1.8 g total EPA/DHA per day) for 12 weeks followed by an 8-week washout period. Serum and RBC FA profiles were analyzed every two weeks by gas chromatography. Two SNPs were genotyped: rs174537 in FADS1 and rs174576 in FADS2. Participants had significantly reduced levels of blood triglycerides (−13%) and glucose (–11%) by week 12; however, these benefits were lost during the washout period. EPA and DHA levels increased significantly in serum (+250% and +51%, respectively) and RBCs (+132% and +18%, respectively) within the first two weeks of supplementation and remained elevated throughout the 12-week period. EPA and DHA levels in RBCs only (not serum) remained significantly elevated (+37% and +24%, respectively) after the washout period. Minor allele carriers for both SNPs experienced greater increases in RBC EPA levels during supplementation; suggesting that genetic variation at this locus can influence an individual’s response to fish oil supplements.

Highlights

The Western diet is characterized as being rich in omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and poor in omega-3 (n-3) PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [1,2]
While EPA, DHA, and arachidonic acid (AA) are the primary FAs that we expected to see changed with fish oil supplementation, we examined other FAs detected by gas chromatography
In regards to other FAs, we found that serum and red blood cells (RBC) docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) levels were significantly increased, and both serum and RBC linoleic acid (LA) levels were significantly reduced by the end of the fish oil supplementation period

Summary

Introduction

The Western diet is characterized as being rich in omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and poor in omega-3 (n-3) PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [1,2] Individuals can increase their EPA and DHA levels by consuming fatty fish, n-3 fortified foods, or dietary supplements such as fish oil, algal oil, or krill oil [3,4]. Changes in other cardiometabolic markers such as cholesterol, glucose, and insulin, have shown conflicting results with fish oil supplementation [8,10] Reasons for these discrepancies include differences in study populations with respect to age, sex, and disease status, as well as differences in study design such as dose and length of supplementation [8,11,12,13]. Young healthy adults are one age group in which the changes in cardiometabolic markers with fish oil supplementation remains poorly characterized

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