Fish Oil Eicosapentaenoic Acid Research Articles

1H NMR Quantification of DHA and EPA in Fish Oil

Fish oil is a popular nutritional product consumed in China. The beneficial effects of fish oil have been attributed to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Hence, it is crucial to develop a rapid and precise method to determine the contents of EPA and DHA in fish oil. In this study, a rapid and accurate proton nuclear magnetic resonance method for the quantification of DHA and EPA was developed. Dimethyl terephthalate was selected as an internal standard, and the signals at 2.391 ppm for DHA and at 1.697 ppm for EPA were chosen for the quantification. Validation of the method was performed in terms of specificity, precision, and stability. The results indicated that the method was precise and in line with the China Food and Drug Administration guidance. The method has been successfully applied to characterize fish oil capsules obtained from four pharmaceutical companies. This study indicated that the rapid 1H NMR method is suitable for the quality control of fish oil.

The Efficacy of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids as Protectors against Calcium Oxalate Renal Stone Formation: A Review.

In the pathogenesis of hypercalciuria and hyperoxaluria, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been implicated by virtue of their metabolic links with arachidonic acid (AA) and prostaglandin PGE2. Studies have also shown that n-3 PUFAs, particularly those in fish oil—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—can serve as competitive substrates for AA in the n-6 series and can be incorporated into cell membrane phospholipids in the latter’s place, thereby reducing urinary excretions of calcium and oxalate. The present review interrogates several different types of study which address the question of the potential roles played by dietary PUFAs in modulating stone formation. Included among these are human trials that have investigated the effects of dietary PUFA interventions. We identified 16 such trials. Besides fish oil (EPA+DHA), other supplements such as evening primrose oil containing n-6 FAs linoleic acid (LA) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA) were tested. Urinary excretion of calcium or oxalate or both decreased in most trials. However, these decreases were most prominent in the fish oil trials. We recommend the administration of fish oil containing EPA and DHA in the management of calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Intrauterine hyperglycemia-induced inflammatory signalling via the receptor for advanced glycation end products in the cardiac muscle of the infants of diabetic mother rats.

Gestational diabetes is associated with increased risk to the health of the mother and her offspring. In particular, the infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) exhibit elevated levels of preterm birth, macrosomia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, and cardiomyopathy. We have previously reported that IDMs showed abnormalities in cardiac Akt-related insulin signalling, and that these deficiencies in Akt-related signalling were attenuated by supplementing the maternal diet with fish-oil. Herein, we investigated whether the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in fish oil can be used to attenuate diabetes associated impairments in cardiomyocyte signalling. Pregnant diabetic rats were administered streptozotocin before receiving EPA or water, and their infants were designated IDM/EPA, IDM/W. We assessed the potential molecular pathway for this effect in the primary cardiac cell from newborn rat hearts. Insulin resistance as determined by diminished GLUT4 translocation following insulin stimulation, the levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and reactive oxygen species were elevated in the neonatal hearts of IDM/W compared with that seen in the offspring born from non-diabetic control animals. Similarly, the receptor of AGEs (RAGE) mRNA levels, reactive oxygen species and the amount of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA were higher in the hearts from the IDM/W when compared to that observed in the hearts of offspring born to non-diabetic animals. These deleterious effects of gestational diabetes were significantly decreased in the offspring of diabetic mothers receiving EPA supplementation. Taken together, our data suggest that the EPA in fish oil may improve the impaired signalling and the excessive protein glycation in the cardiac muscles of infants exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia.

Omega-3 oil: a fishy protection for the heart

Adding n-3 fatty acids from fish oil—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—to our diet is likely to lower our risk of cardiovascular disease, according to some previous studies and basic research but other studies in people with cardiac disease have shown negative, disappointing results. Daan Kromhout et al. 1 now show that low doses of a mixture of EPA and DHA (EPA-DHA) or the plant-derived lipid α-linoleic acid (ALA) did not have a beneficial effect in reducing sudden cardiac death in people that had suffered myocardial infarction in the past. A subgroup of women and diabetics, however, showed less risk for arrhythmias when taking ALA alone. These controversial results pose questions and challenges for the future use of these lipids in cardiovascular therapy.

A Dose of Defense?: Omega-3 Supplements Appear Protective against PM Effects

Vol. 116, No. 9 EnvironewsOpen AccessA Dose of Defense?: Omega-3 Supplements Appear Protective against PM Effects Cynthia Washam Cynthia Washam Search for more papers by this author Published:1 September 2008https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.116-a394aAboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, believed to lessen the risk of many chronic ailments including arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and memory loss, may also help protect the heart against certain damaging effects of air pollution. In a new study by an international team of researchers, supplementation with omega-3s was associated with significantly reduced cardiac stress caused by particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) in a group of elderly individuals in Mexico City [EHP 116:1237–1242; Romieu et al.]. The study is the first to examine the effects of omega-3s on biomarkers of cellular response to the oxidative stress of air pollution.Exposure to high levels of particulates from vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions raises the risk of hypertension, heart arrhythmia, heart attack, and stroke, with the elderly being particularly susceptible. Some of the authors had previously shown both that PM2.5 promotes heart disease by diminishing heart-rate variability and that omega-3 supplementation could increase heart-rate variability. The current study was intended to find out how omega-3s achieve their effects.The study population of 52 elderly nursing home residents was chronically exposed to high PM2.5 levels; particulate levels inside the nursing home, where residents spent nearly all their time, correlated with the smoggy surroundings outside. For four months starting in 2001, half the participants in the double-blind study received fish oil supplements at doses typical for over-the-counter supplement users; the other half received soy oil supplements.The research team compared blood samples taken from subjects before and during supplementation and found that omega-3 use was associated with diminished oxidative damage in blood cells. The observed antioxidant effect of omega-3s was much greater in fish oil users than in soy oil users, a difference the investigators attribute to the different amounts and types of omega-3s in the two supplement types (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in fish oil versus α-linolenic acid in soy oil).The authors note limitations of their study, such as the small sample size and limited exposure assessment. However, the finding that omega-3s appear effective against oxidative stress related to PM2.5 exposure, with fish oil supplements offering more protection than soy oil supplements, merits further study in larger populations.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 116, No. 9 September 2008Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 September 2008Published in print1 September 2008 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.

Formation and antiproliferative effect of prostaglandin E3 from eicosapentaenoic acid in human lung cancer cells

We investigated the formation and pharmacology of prostaglandin E(3) (PGE(3)) derived from fish oil eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in human lung cancer A549 cells. Exposure of A549 cells to EPA resulted in the rapid formation and export of PGE(3.) The extracellular ratio of PGE(3) to PGE(2) increased from 0.08 in control cells to 0.8 in cells exposed to EPA within 48 h. Incubation of EPA with cloned ovine or human recombinant cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) resulted in 13- and 18-fold greater formation of PGE(3), respectively, than that produced by COX-1. Exposure of A549 cells to 1 microM PGE(3) inhibited cell proliferation by 37.1% (P < 0.05). Exposure of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells to PGE(3), however, had no effect. When A549 cells were exposed to EPA (25 microM) or a combination of EPA and celecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor), the inhibitory effect of EPA on the growth of A549 cells was reversed by the presence of celecoxib (at both 5 and 10 microM). This effect appears to be associated with a 50% reduction of PGE(3) formation in cells treated with a combination of EPA and celecoxib compared with cells exposed to EPA alone. These data indicate that exposure of lung cancer cells to EPA results in a decrease in the COX-2-mediated formation of PGE(2), an increase in the level of PGE(3), and PGE(3)-mediated inhibition of tumor cell proliferation.

10 Nutrition and ulcerative colitis

The role of diet in the aetiology and pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) remains uncertain. Impaired utilization by colonocytes of butyrate, a product of bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates escaping digestion, may be important. Sulphur-fermenting bacteria may be involved in this impaired utilization. Oxidative stress probably mediates tissue injury but is probably not of causative importance. Patients with UC are prone to malnutrition and its detrimental effects. However, there is no role for total parenteral nutrition and bowel rest as primary therapy for UC. The maintenance of adequate nutrition is very important, particularly in the pen-operative patient. In the absence of massive bleeding, perforation, toxic megacolon or obstruction, enteral rather than parenteral nutrition should be the mode of choice. Nutrients may be beneficial as adjuvant therapy. Butyrate enemas have improved patients with otherwise recalcitrant distal colitis in small studies. Non-cellulose fibre supplements are of benefit in rats with experimental colitis. Eicosapentaenoic acid in fish oil has a steroid-sparing effect which, although modest, is important, particularly in terms of reducing the risk of osteoporosis, but it seems to have no role in the patient with inactive disease. γ-Linolenic acid and anti-oxidants also are showing promise. Nutrients may also modify the increased risk of colorectal carcinoma. Oxidative stress can damage tissue DNA but there are no data published at present on possible protection from oral anti-oxidants. Butyrate protects against experimental carcinogenesis in rats with experimental colitis. Folate supplementation is weakly associated with decreased incidence of cancer in UC patients when assessed retrospectively. Vigilance should be maintained for increased micronutrient requirements and supplements given as appropriate. Calcium and low-dose vitamin D should be given to patients on long-term steroids and folate to those on sulphasalazine.

Effects of MaxEPA on salt-induced hypertension: relationship to [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine binding sites.

We investigated the effects of dietary MaxEPA (a major source of eicosapentaenoic acid in fish oil) supplementation on blood pressure (BP) responses and heart rate (HR) of Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats fed low (0.4% NaCl) and high (8.0% NaCl) sodium diets. During a four week treatment period, BP remained normotensive in rats on low salt diet but was significantly elevated in those on high salt diet, causing 50% mortality. MaxEPA diminished the BP elevation and prevented the high salt-induced mortality. HR was not affected by either salt diet alone but was reduced in the presence of MaxEPA. At the end of the treatment period, the distribution of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine ([3H]NBMPR) binding, a putative marker of adenosine transport and metabolism, was estimated in selected rat tissues in order to evaluate the role of the purinergic system in the BP lowering effect of MaxEPA. Maximal [3H]NBMPR binding capacity (Bmax) in the kidney and platelets were 39% and 82% lower, respectively, in rats on high salt diet than in those on low salt diet. MaxEPA significantly blunted the decrease in Bmax in the kidney but not in platelets and increased Bmax in heart (48%) of low salt group. There were no changes in dissociation constants (Kd). The results suggest that MaxEPA can attenuate salt-induced hypertension, reduce salt-induced mortality and protect the integrity of kidney NBMPR binding sites in salt-induced hypertension.