Dietary Fish Oil Supplementation Research Articles

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids modulate the production of platelet-derived microvesicles in an in vivo inflammatory arthritis model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) enriched diets, including a novel renewable plant source of ω-3 fatty acids (Buglossoides arvensis), on the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA was induced in mice consuming experimental diets using the K/BxN model. The experimental diets consisted of either a western control diet (control), diets containing B. arvensis oil or fish oil. The effects of the diets on platelets, platelet microvesicles (PMVs), and inflammatory markers such as clinical index, ankle thickness and cytokine/chemokine release were measured. While ω-3 PUFA-enriched diets did not prevent the development of arthritis in the K/BxN model, a significant decrease in ankle swelling was observed compared to the control group. Platelets isolated from mice consuming either low content of B. arvensis oil or fish oil diets exhibited significantly decreased PMVs production compared to mice consuming the control diet. Our study provides insight into the contribution of ω-3 PUFA supplementation in modulating the pro-inflammatory phenotype of platelets in RA pathology. Furthermore, our study suggests that low concentrations of dietary B. arvensis oil may have similar anti-inflammatory potential seen with dietary fish oil supplementation.

Dietary menhaden fish oil supplementation suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in diabetic rats

Context Menhaden fish oil (FO) is widely recognized for inhibiting neuroinflammatory responses and preserving brain function. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of FO influencing brain cognitive function in diabetic states remain unclear. Objective This study examines the potential role of FO in suppressing LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in diabetic animals (DA). Materials and methods Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: i) DA received LPS induction (DA-LPS); ii) DA received LPS induction and 1 g/kg FO (DA-LPS-1FO); iii) DA received LPS induction and 3 g/kg FO (DA-LPS-3FO); iv) animals received normal saline and 3 g/kg FO (NS-3FO) and v) control animals received normal saline (CTRL). Y-maze test was used to measure cognitive performance, while brain samples were collected for inflammatory markers and morphological analysis. Results DA received LPS induction, and 1 or 3 g/kg FO significantly inhibited hyperglycaemia and brain inflammation, as evidenced by lowered levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. Additionally, both DA-LPS-1FO and DA-LPS-3FO groups exhibited a notable reduction in neuronal damage and glial cell migration compared to the other groups. These results were correlated with the increasing number of entries and time spent in the novel arm of the Y-maze test. Discussion and conclusion This study indicates that supplementation of menhaden FO inhibits the LPS signaling pathway and protects against neuroinflammation, consequently maintaining cognitive performance in diabetic animals. Thus, the current study suggested that fish oil may be effective as a supporting therapy option for diabetes to avoid diabetes-cognitive impairment.

N-3 enriched Fish oil diet enhanced intestinal barrier integrity in broilers after Eimeria infection

Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. results in substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids-enriched fish oil on growth performance, intestinal barrier integrity, and intestinal immune response of broilers challenged with Eimeria spp. A total of 576 14-day-old broilers were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design with a 3×2 factorial arrangement, comprising two diets supplemented with either 5% fish oil or 5% soybean oil, and three Eimeria spp. infection levels: a non-challenge control, a low dose of Eimeria challenge, and a high challenge dose. The results of the study revealed significant interactions between diet and Eimeria challenge to parameters of gut barrier integrity and feed intake. A significant interaction was observed in feed intake between 5-8 days post-infection (DPI), where the fish oil groups exhibited a higher amount of feed intake compared to the soybean oil diet groups after coccidiosis infection. The effects of the fish oil diet resulted in enhanced gut barrier integrity, as evidenced by a trend of decreased gastrointestinal leakage and a lower mean of small intestine lesion scores after Eimeria challenge. Additionally, significant interactions were noted between Eimeria spp. challenge and diet regarding jejunal crypt depth. The positive impact of the fish oil diet was particularly noticeable with the high Eimeria challenge dose. Overall, these findings underscore the relationship between the fish oil diet and Eimeria challenge on broiler chicken intestinal health. Dietary supplementation of fish oil has the potential to maintain small intestine barrier integrity with severe Eimeria infection conditions.

Fish oil supplement use modifies the relationship between dietary oily fish intake and plasma n-3 PUFA levels: an analysis of the UK Biobank.

Observational evidence linking dietary n-3 PUFA intake and health outcomes is limited by a lack of robust validation of dietary intake using blood n-3 PUFA levels and potential confounding by fish oil supplement (FOS) use. We investigated the relationship between oily fish intake, FOS use and plasma n-3 PUFA levels in 121650 UK Biobank (UKBB) participants. Ordinal logistic regression models, adjusted for clinical and lifestyle factors, were used to quantify the contribution of dietary oily fish intake and FOS use to plasma n-3 PUFA levels (measured by NMR spectroscopy). Oily fish intake and FOS use were reported by 38 % and 31 % of participants, respectively. Increasing oily fish intake was associated with a higher likelihood of FOS use (P < 0·001). Oily fish intake ≥ twice a week was the strongest predictor of high total n-3 PUFA (OR 6·7 (95 % CI 6·3, 7·1)) and DHA levels (6·6 (6·3, 7·1). FOS use was an independent predictor of high plasma n-3 PUFA levels (2·0 (2·0, 2·1)) with a similar OR to that associated with eating oily fish < once a week (1·9 (1·8, 2·0)). FOS use was associated with plasma n-3 PUFA levels that were similar to individuals in the next highest oily fish intake category. In conclusion, FOS use is more common in frequent fish consumers and modifies the relationship between oily fish intake and plasma n-3 PUFA levels in UKBB participants. If unaccounted for, FOS use may confound the relationship between dietary n-3 PUFA intake, blood levels of n-3 PUFAs and health outcomes.

Supplementing graded levels of Fish oil in the feeds of Labeo rohita fingerlings: Effects on tissue n-3 LC-PUFA deposition, Δ6 fad gene expression, blood metabolites and fish performance

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of levels of fish oil (FO), 0 (FO-0), 30 (FO-30), 60(FO-60), 90 (FO-90),120 (FO-120) and 150 (FO-150) g kg−1 feed on growth, nutrient utilisation, whole-body chemical composition, tissue fatty acids profile, blood metabolites and Δ6 fad gene expression in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Two hundred and seventy fingerlings of average body weight 13.03 ± 0.03 g were randomly stocked in 18 500 L concrete tanks, each with 15 fingerlings. Triplicate tanks, all fitted with flow-through water systems, were allocated under each dietary treatment. The fish were hand-fed twice daily till satiation. The feed intake decreased with increasing dietary FO levels. The body weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased significantly with increasing dietary FO supplementation level of 60 g kg−1 feed. Above this level, the values plateaued. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed the reverse trend of growth. The fish fed with FO-120 had the highest whole-body lipid deposition. Increasing dietary FO levels up to 90 g kg−1 feed enhanced muscle n-3 LC-PUFA content significantly (P < 0.05), and further increasing the FO level did not further influence the fatty acid. Supplementation of FO in the feeds significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed the Δ6 fad gene expression in muscle, liver, and intestine tissues. In muscle and liver tissues, the suppression of the Δ6 fad gene expression was the highest when the dietary FO level was above 90 g FO kg−1 feed, whereas in the intestine tissue above 60 g FO kg−1. Increasing dietary FO levels increased serum cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) contents and decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations. The second-order polynomial regression graphs suggest a 104 g lipid kg−1 feed is optimum for the best growth and nutrient utilisation, whereas 113 g FO kg−1 feed is required to maximise n-3 LC-PUFA deposition in the muscle of L. rohita fingerlings.

Dietary Fish Oil Supplementation Attenuates Myocardial Dysfunction and Injury Caused by Global Ischemia and Reperfusion in Isolated Rat Hearts

To determine the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on myocardial dysfunction following ischemia-reperfusion, independent of plasma and blood cells, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed fish oil-rich nonpurified diet or butter-enriched diet for 5 d. Myocardial content of long-chain and (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids was greater in the fish oil-fed rats (P < 0.01), whereas (n-6) fatty acid content was lower compared with controls (P < 0.01). Platelet aggregation in fish oil-fed rats was also inhibited. Hearts from all rats were subjected to 15 min of global ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion. In hearts of control rats, ischemia-reperfusion resulted in a marked decrease in force of cardiac contraction, increase in coronary perfusion pressure, appearance of ventricular arrhythmias and release of creatine kinase and thromboxane B2 in the coronary effluent. Dietary fish oil supplementation attenuated myocardial dysfunction induced by ischemia-reperfusion, as indicated by smaller change in force of cardiac contraction (-77% vs. -89%, P < 0.05) and coronary perfusion pressure (+37% vs. +71%, P < 0.001). Concomitantly, release of creatine kinase as well as thromboxane B2 in coronary effluent was lower (P < 0.01). Ventricular arrhythmias occurred less frequently in hearts from fish oil-fed rats. Thus, short-term dietary fish oil supplementation attenuates myocardial dysfunction caused by ischemia-reperfusion by a direct effect on the heart independent of blood and plasma components.

Bilberry-containing supplements on severe dry eye disease in young and middle-aged adults: A 3-month pilot analysis.

To explore the effect of bilberry and fish oil combination supplement on a small clinical sample patient-base with severe dry eyes. Twenty-four subjects were recruited with twelve randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, respectively. Inclusion criteria included severe dry eye symptoms determined by scores >33 from the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. The intervention group was instructed to take an oral supplement with key ingredients of 600 mg bilberry extract and 240 mg docosahexaenoic acid-refined fish oil once daily for 3 months. The control group did not take any supplements. Mean changes in OSDI score, non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT), phenol red thread test (PRT), and percentage of meibomian gland openings were used as outcome measures. Testing was done at baseline, 1-month, and 3-month follow-up. Comparison between the treatment and control groups, and the younger adult and middle-age groups were performed. The mean baseline values for the treatment and control groups were not clinically different. The OSDI score, NITBUT, PRT, and percentage of meibomian gland openings improved after taking the supplements for 3 months. The OSDI score, NITBUT, and PRT showed clinical improvements between the intervention and control groups. These improvements were consistent between the two age groups. This study suggested preliminary improvements in signs and symptoms of severe dry eyes that were independent of age after taking dietary supplementation of bilberry extract and fish oil for 3 months. Further studies using more device-based measures and a placebo supplement are warranted.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Fish Oil as a Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acid on Growth Performance and Physiological Parameters of Growing Rabbits

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Fish Oil as a Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acid on Growth Performance and Physiological Parameters of Growing Rabbits

Fish oil users of Greece: Predictors, knowledge and habits regarding dietary supplement use.

Fish oil (FO) dietary supplements (DS) have gained popularity over the past few decades and emerged as one of the most popular DS in both Europe and the USA. However, in Greece, no study has been carried out to determine the prevalence and characteristics of FO consumers. The aim of this study was to describe the stance (i.e., beliefs, knowledge and habits) and practices of FO users in Greece towards DS. A cross-sectional study, using in-person questionnaires and a stratified random sampling technique, was conducted throughout 2018-2019. A total of 28491 Greek citizens over 15 years old were interviewed in 74 regional units corresponding to the 13 administrative regions of Greece. Having used DS at least once, deemed one as: DS+FO, if FO were among them; DS-FO, if FO were never used or DS non-user, if DS were never used. Pearson's chi-square test was used to determine independence between relevant outcome variables and FO use and multinomial logistic regression was performed to create models predictive of FO use. The sample consisted of 3.5% DS+FO, 51.3% DS-FO and 43.8% DS non-users, while 1.4% could not remember whether they had used DS. Significant predictors for being a DS+FO were identified. DS+FO were more likely to judge a DS-less diet as insufficient, support DS use and comprehend DS's labels. Also, DS+FO had used additional DS, considered more parameters when buying DS and were receivers of DS recommendations from more sources compared to DS-FO. 90% of DS users seek at least one approval source of their DS and 50% support DS recommendation by doctors. Favorableness towards DS is more prevalent among DS+FO. Most respondents lack knowledge about the legislative background of DS and many would agree to professional guidance.

Abstract 13395: Truth in Advertising? Health Claims and Contents of Fish Oil Supplements

Background: Fish oil supplement use continues to rise. Although prescription eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at 4 gm/day did lower cardiovascular risk, the vast majority of randomized trials have shown no benefit to fish oil dietary supplements. Information on health claims and contents of fish oil supplements is limited. Methods: Label information for on-market fish oil supplements was obtained from the National Institute of Health Dietary Supplement Label Database as of February 2022. Label text was analyzed to categorize health claims by type and organ system referenced. The total daily dose of EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was evaluated for supplements made by 16 of the leading retailers and manufacturers of fish oil. Results: We evaluated 2,192 fish oil supplement labels, among which 1,647 (75.1%) made at least one health claim. Of these, only 22.0% (n=362) used from the FDA-approved qualified health claim for fish oil. The remaining 78.0% of labels made “structure &amp; function” claims (e.g., “promotes heart health”, “supports brain and vision function”, etc.) across a variety of organ systems (Figure). Heart-health related claims were the most common (n=1,390, 63.4% of labels). Across 16 different brands/manufacturers, 239 product labels were reviewed for dose information. Wide variation in the doses of EPA and DHA was observed (median EPA+DHA dose 600 mg, interquartile range 250-1100 mg). Only 9.2% of supplements reviewed contained at least 2 gm of EPA+DHA, the minimum recommended for triglyceride lowering, and none contained an EPA dose shown to prevent cardiovascular events (≥4 gm/day). Conclusions: Fish oil supplement labels commonly make vaguely worded claims that imply a range of health benefits, almost none of which are supported by randomized trial data. The doses of EPA and DHA available in commonly used fish oil supplements vary substantially, yet none contain levels shown to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Mechanistic insights into the health benefits of fish-oil supplementation against fine particulate matter air pollution: a randomized controlled trial

Background:Dietary fish-oil supplementation might attenuate the associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and subclinical biomarkers. However, the molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of fish-oil supplementation against the PM2.5-induced health effects.Methods:We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial among healthy college students in Shanghai, China, from September 2017 to January 2018. A total of 70 participants from the Fenglin campus of Fudan University were included. We randomly assigned participants to either supplementation of 2.5-gram fish oil (n = 35) or sunflower-seed oil (placebo) (n = 35) per day and conducted four rounds of health measurements in the last two months of the trial. As a post hoc exploratory study, the present untargeted metabolomics analysis used remaining blood samples collected in the previous trial and applied a Metabolome-Wide Association Study framework to compare the effects of PM2.5 on the metabolic profile between the sunflower-seed oil and fish oil groups.Results:A total of 65 participants completed the trial (34 of the fish oil group and 31 of the sunflower-seed oil group). On average, ambient PM2.5 concentration on the day of health measurements was 34.9 µg/m3 in the sunflower-seed oil group and 34.5 µg/m3 in the fish oil group, respectively. A total of 3833 metabolites were significantly associated with PM2.5 in the sunflower-seed oil group and 1757 in the fish oil group. Of these, 1752 metabolites showed significant between-group differences. The identified differential metabolites included arachidonic acid derivatives, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, and omega-9 fatty acids that were related to unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, which plays a role in the inflammatory responses.Conclusion:This trial suggests fish-oil supplementation could mitigate the PM2.5-induced inflammatory responses via modulating fatty acid metabolism, providing biological plausibility for the health benefits of fish-oil supplementation against PM2.5 exposure.Trial registration:This study is registered at ClinicalTrails.gov (NCT03255187).

Oxidative stability of fish oil dietary supplements and their cytotoxic effect on cultured human keratinocytes

Commercially available fish oil supplements (FOS) are rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and have been prescribed as complementary therapy to reduce symptoms in many inflammatory skin diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the PUFAs content, oxidative stability and investigate the inhibitory effects on immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell growth of FOS commercialized in Brazil. The fatty acids composition, analyzed by gas chromatography, was similar for all the capsules (comprising up to 30% n-3 PUFAs) and underwent no significant alteration during the storage period (9, 12, 18 and 24 months). Primary (peroxide), secondary (anisidine), and total oxidation products levels of only two FOS exceeded the maximum established by international quality standards, however, it is recommendable that the storage period should not exceed 18 months at the ambient temperature. Some products exhibited dose-dependent inhibitory effects on HaCaT proliferation.

Long-term effects of adolescent exposure to olanzapine in C57BL/6J mice and the impact of dietary fish oil supplementation.

Second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medications can produce abnormal weight gain and metabolic dysfunction in children, but little is known about the post-treatment consequences of adolescent SGA exposure. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term, post-treatment effects of adolescent olanzapine exposure on weight and metabolic function and whether dietary fish oil (FO) modulated any observed effects of olanzapine. Male and female mice were fed a high-fat, high-sugar (HF-HS) diet or an HF-HS diet supplemented with fish oil (HF-HS-FO) and were treated with olanzapine or vehicle for 29days beginning on postnatal day 37. In male mice, adolescent olanzapine treatment suppressed weight gain during and after treatment and improved metabolic function in adulthood; dietary fish oil reduced weight gain, increased expression of fatty acid oxidation genes, and decreased expression of genes associated with fatty acid synthesis and inflammation. In contrast, few effects were observed in female mice. The current results suggest that adolescent olanzapine exposure can produce long-term alterations in weight and metabolic function in male mice and that dietary fish oil can reduce adverse effects of lifelong consumption of an HF-HS diet. Because expected adverse effects of adolescent olanzapine treatment were not observed, the potential beneficial effects of dietary fish oil for SGA-induced weight gain and metabolic dysfunction could not be evaluated.

Improved long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in sago palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) larvae by dietary fish oil supplementation

The nutritional values of sago palm weevil larvae (SPWL) reared on mixed plant-based diets (ground sago palm trunk (GS), cornmeal, rice bran, soybean, and perilla seed), containing different levels of dietary fish oil (FO) were compared to those reared on commercial pig feed (PF) and GS. Increased FO content resulted in an increase in ω-3 fatty acids (FA) in SPWL (p < 0.05), especially α-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. When fed FO-fortified diets instead of PF, the health-promoting indices of the SPWL lipid improved significantly (e.g., decreased ω-6/ω-3 ratio, thrombogenicity index, and hypercholesterolemic FA with increased PUFA content). The lipid, protein, and mineral contents of SPWL were increased while growth performance was maintained on a 1.5% FO-fortified diet. Higher FO levels (3–5%) had a negative impact on the nutritional values and growth performance of the SPWL. Thus, there was a reasonable chance of developing a high-nutrient alternative insect for human consumption.

Dietary fish oil augments the tumor immune microenvironment in anti-PD-1 treated melanoma.

e21564 Background: Less than half of metastatic melanoma patients experience objective responses to first line anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibition (αPD-1 ICI). Omega-3 fatty acids in dietary fish oil (FO) shift myeloid and T-cell populations to anti-inflammatory, pro-resolution phenotypes in immunity and cancer. We investigated whether dietary FO supplementation could augment tumor microenvironment (TME) immune profiles and improve ICI response in melanoma. Methods: C57-BL6/J mice were injected with YUMM 1.7 melanoma in the flank. Mice were fed control chow (CTL) or omega-3 rich (FO) chow (10% w/w, 30%kcal/kcal) starting 7 days post tumor implantation. Intraperitoneal αPD1 or IgG2a vehicle were injected q3-4 days starting day 12. To assess the temporal flux of TME immune populations, tumors from mice in analogous experiments were assessed for growth, harvested on day 12, day 22, or day 32, and characterized via flow cytometry. Results: In multiple models, FO decreased YUMM tumor growth vs. CTL by day 32 (&gt; 21% for all models). FO halved tumor associated macrophage content, including M2 macrophages (Arg1+, CD206+, CD68+, F480+), at day 12. Conversely, FO increased M2 macrophages at day 22, leveling even with CTL at day 32. At all three timepoints, FO increased TME monocytes (Ly6C+, Ly6G-). In the T cell compartment, FO decreased TME CD4 and CD8 T cell content (including PD1+ CD4 and PD1+ CD8) at day 12, an effect which was reversed by day 22 (increased CD4 and CD8s vs CTL). FO increased PD-L1+ CD4 T cells and CD8+ T cells, including PD1+ CD8 T cells, on day 32. When fish oil diets were started on day 12 (concurrent with immunotherapy), FO decreased tumor volume, increased monocytes (and PD-L1+ monocytes), and increased CD4 and PD1+ CD8 T cells by day 32, all less significantly than when starting diets 5 days prior to initiation of immunotherapy. All results significant (p &lt; 0.05) by 2-way ANOVA or t-test unless specified. Food eaten, water imbibed, and weight change did not vary between groups. Conclusions: Fish oil impairs in vivo murine melanoma tumor growth with and without αPD-1 ICI. Fish oil modulated myeloid and T cell lineages via delaying M2 macrophage and CD4 / CD8 T-cell appearance in the tumor microenvironment, with concomitant increases in monocytes and key T cell effectors involved in αPD-1 ICI responsiveness by the time decrements in tumor growth were noted. Dietary fish oil may benefit patients with advanced melanoma treated with αPD-1 immunotherapy; further study in humans is warranted.

Evaluation of the Preventive Effects of Fish Oil and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Pathophysiology of Sepsis in Endotoxemic Rats.

Sepsis causes platelet activation, systemic inflammation, organ dysfunction, and mortality. Endotoxins play an important role in the manifestation of the symptoms of septic shock. As fish oil exert well known anti-inflammatory effects and sunflower seed oil exert less anti-inflammatory properties than fish oil, both oils are widely used. We aimed to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation of these two oils before endotoxemia modulates the consequences of illness. Nine- to ten-week-old male Wistar rats (N = 55) were divided into four groups: group A (N = 6), control; group B (N = 17), saline + lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin); group C (N = 17), fish oil + lipopolysaccharide; and group D (N = 15), sunflower seed oil + lipopolysaccharide. After 28 days of feeding the designated diet, the rats in all groups were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide. After 24 h, survival rate, endotoxemia severity, levels of platelet activation markers, organ function and biochemical variables were evaluated. Platelet-leukocyte aggregation was significantly high in group C (p = 0.005), and platelet-monocyte aggregation was significantly high in groups C (p = 0.003) and D (p = 0.016) than in group B. The survival rate, endotoxemia severity, expression of platelet P-selectin, CD40L, and TLR4, pulmonary function, renal function, liver function, or biochemical variables did not significantly differ among groups B, C, and D. Instead of an anti-inflammatory effect, the dietary supplementation of fish and sunflower seed oils exerted a pro-inflammatory effect, especially via platelet-monocyte aggregation, suggesting a rebound effect of the dietary supplementation of the oils. The oils did not affect other inflammatory platelet markers or improve the outcome of endotoxemic rats. However, further studies are required to understand the underlying mechanisms of such effects and to elaborate the clinical significance of these findings.

Effect of dietary n-3 fatty acid and rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) supplementation on semen quality, sperm fatty acids and reproductive performance of aged male broiler breeders.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of dietary fish oil (FO) and rooibos supplementation on semen quality, fatty acids composition and reproductive performance of aged male broiler breeders. Seventy-two 47-week-old Ross broiler breeder roosters were randomly assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangements to include two FO concentrations (0% and 2%) and 3 rooibos concentrations (0%, 1.5% and 3%) for 13 weeks consecutive. The different diets affected semen parameters significantly (p < 0.05), except for the semen concentration and abnormality of the sperm. The sperm of the FO and 3% rooibos-treated group showed better motility and viability when compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The susceptibility of semen to lipid peroxidation was increased in roosters fed the rooibos-free diets (p < 0.05), but it was reduced (p < 0.05) when the diet was supplemented with 1.5% and 3% rooibos. In addition, at 64 weeks, the highest concentration of testosterone was observed in the roosters fed a diet that included 2% FO and 3% rooibos (p < 0.05); however, the difference in testosterone levels between Week 52 and Week 64 was not significant (p > 0.05). The fertility rate of collected eggs from the FO and 3% rooibos group was higher (p < 0.05) than that of the other groups at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of FO along with rooibos improved seminal quality and reproduction performance in aged roosters.

Bioaccessibility and Oxidative Stability of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Supplements, Sardines and Enriched Eggs Studied Using a Static In Vitro Gastrointestinal Model.

Modern dietary habits have created the need for the design and production of functional foods enriched in bioactive compounds for a healthy lifestyle. However, the fate of many of these bioactive compounds in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract has not been thoroughly investigated. Thus, in the present study, the bioaccessibility of omega-3 fatty acids was examined. To that end, different foods and supplements underwent simulated digestion following the INFOGEST protocol. The selected samples were foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids both in free and bound form—i.e., dietary fish oil supplements, heat-treated fish, and eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. The oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was measured at each stage of the digestion process using peroxide value (PV) and TBARS and by quantifying individual omega-3 fatty acids using a gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The final bioaccessibility values of omega-3 fatty acids were determined. Changes in the quantity of mono-saturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were recorded as well. The results indicated a profound oxidation of omega-3 fatty acids, giving rise to both primary and secondary oxidation products. Additionally, stomach conditions seemed to exert the most significant effect on the oxidation of PUFAs during digestion, significantly decreasing their bioaccessibility. The oxidation rate of each fatty acid was found to be strongly correlated with its initial concentration. Finally, the oxidation pattern was found to be different for each matrix and emulsified lipids seemed to be better protected than non-emulsified lipids. It is concluded that digestion has a profound negative effect on omega-3 bioaccessibility and therefore there is a need for improved protective mechanisms.

Assessment of the safety of dietary fish oil supplements in terms of content and quality.

The fatty acid composition of top-selling fish oil dietary supplements in the markets was compared with the content stated on product label, and their oxidative qualities and heavy metal contents were evaluated in this study. While all the capsule groups (C) confirmed the label information, it was observed that one-third of the syrup groups (S) had less than the specified content. Capsule groups generally had richer EPA and DHA contents than syrup groups in the samples examined. The peroxide values (PV) of all fish oil capsules and syrups were found in the range of 1.97-2.89mEq/kg and 2.22-18.30mEq/kg, respectively. As for free fatty acids (FFA) values, the C4, S6, S9, and S10 groups were above the 3% oleic acid limit recommended for high-quality oils. However, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) values were found below 1mg MA/kg in all groups. All fish oil supplements were within the limits specified in terms of As (0.50-4.19µg/g), Cd (0.14µg/g detected for one group, C5), Cu (not detected), Fe (0.32-15.7µg/g), and Hg (≤ 0.1µg/g). On the other hand, two fish oil supplements from the capsule group (0.17 for C6 and 1.01µg/g for C8) and one group from the syrup group (0.29µg/g for S10) exceeded the recommended limit in terms of Pb (0.1mg/kg). As a result of the research, it can be concluded that the chemical quality of fish oils in syrup form needs to be improved and their reliability in terms of fatty acid content should be increased. Considering the heavy metals, it seems significant to follow up the fish oil products more strictly.

Effects of dietary fish oil supplementation in the diet on performance of Broiler chicks

This work was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of fish oil on growth performance, carcass quality, immunological and serum biochemical parameters, total antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, mortality ratio and economic efficiency measures of broiler chicks. A total of 150 (ross 308) one day old chicks was distributed into 5 groups each contains 3 replicates (10 chicks/ replicate) fed on Five experimental diets contains different level of oils (0 oil, 1(SBO &amp; FO), 2 FO and 3% FO respectively), during the experimental period (5 weeks). four chicks from each replicate were used for analysis of the experimental chicks. The results revealed that supplementation of fish oil in diets of broiler chicks 1,2 and 3 % improve (P&lt; 0.05) the body weight (Bw) and body weight gain (BWG) than control groups but the best value were observed in 1&amp;3% fish oil group beside improvement of feed conversion ratio (FCR) in all groups fed fish oil than control groups. However, numerically increased feed consumption in 1% SBO fed group than other groups. Significant (P&lt; 0.05) improvement of carcass characteristics and dressing percentage gradually with fish oil supplementation. The values of USFA and n-3 PUFA were significantly (P&lt; 0.05) higher in the breast muscle of broilers fed with fish oil compared to the control groups. But, SFA significantly (P&lt; 0.05) decreased with fish oil than control groups. No significant difference in n-6 PUFA value between SBO and FO groups. So, N- 6:N3 ratio in breast meat decreased gradually with FO addition. Also, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and VLDL concentrations were significantly (P&lt; 0.05) reduced by fish oil treatments, but serum HDL-c, total protein (TP), and globulin (GL) concentrations were significantly (P&lt; 0.05) increased by using diets containing fish oil. Also, provision of fish oil Significantly (P&lt; 0.05) improves immune response in broilers chicken against Newcastle virus vaccine through increase antibody titer and TLC with decreased mortality rate. Significant (P&lt; 0.05) improvement of intestinal morphology with fish oil supplement were detected. The highest economic efficiency was recorded in group fed 1% FO followed by 1% SBO, 2% FO, 3% FO,0% oil gradually. from the present study, it could be concluded that the supplementation of fish oil in chick's diets significantly improve the growth performance, body composition, immune response, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, decrease the mortality rate and economically efficient at rate 1% addition