Red Blood Cell Phosphatidylcholine Research Articles

Plasma and red blood cell n3 fatty acids correlate positively with the WISC-R verbal and full-scale intelligence quotients and inversely with Conner's parent-rated ADHD index t-scores in children with high functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome

Findings of the fatty acid status of people with autism spectrum disorders have been incongruent perhaps because of the diversity of the condition. A cross-sectional design study was used to investigated fatty acid levels and relationships between fatty acids, and cognition and behaviour in a homogenous group of children with autism spectrum disorder. Children with Asperger's syndrome (AS) /high functioning autism (n = 44) and healthy siblings (n = 17) were recruited from the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Centre for Children with Autism, Warsaw, Poland. In the AS group, plasma phosphatidylcholine 22:5n3 correlated positively with verbal (r = 0.357, p = 0.019) and full scale (r = 0.402, p = 0.008) IQs, red blood cell phosphatidylcholine 22:5n3 with verbal (r = 0.308, p = 0.044), performance (r = 0.304, p = 0.047) and full scale (r = 0.388, p = 0.011) IQs and red blood cell phosphatidylethanolamine 22:5n3 with verbal (r = 0.390, p = 0.010) and full scale (r = 0.370, p = 0.016) IQs. Whilst, plasma phosphatidycholine 20:5n3 (r = -0.395, p = 0.009), 22:6n3 (r = -0.402, p = 0.007) and total n3 fatty acids (r = -425, p = 0.005), red blood cell phosphatidlycholine 20:5n3 (r = -0.321, p = 0.036) and red blood cell phosphatidylethanolamine 20:5n3 (r = -0.317, p = 0.038), 22:6n3 (r = -0.297, p = 0.05) and total n3 fatty acids (r = -0.306, p = 0.046) correlated inversly with ADHD index. Similarly, inattention was negatively related with plasma phosphatidylcholine 22:6n3 (r = -0.335, p = 0.028), and total n3 fatty acids (r = -0.340, p = 0.026), oppositional with plasma phosphatidylcholine 18:3n3 (r = -0.333, p = 0.029), 20:5n3 (r = -0.365, p = 0.016), total n3 fatty acids (r = -0.293, p < 0.05), red blood cell phosphatidylcholine 18:3n3 (r = -0.337, p = 0.027) and red blood cell ethanolamine 18:3n3 (r = - 0.333, p = 0.029), 20:5n3 (r = -0.328, p = 0.032), 22:6n3 (r = 0.362, p = 0.017) and total n-3 fatty acids (r = -0.298, p < 0.05) and hyperactivity with plasma phosphatidylcholine 22:6n3 (r = -0.320, p = 0.039). In contrast, there were inverse correlations between red blood cell phosphatidylcholine 18:2n6 and performance (r = -0.358, p = 0.019) and full scale (r = -0.320, p = 0.039) IQs, and direct correlations between red blood cell phosphatidylcholine 22:4n6 (r = 0.339, p = 0.026) and 22:5n6 (r = 0.298, p < 0.05) and ADHD index, between red blood cell phosphatidylcholine 22:4n6 (r = 0.308, p = 0.044) and inattention, between plasma phosphatidylcholine 22:4n6 (r = 0.341, p = 0.025), red blood cell phosphatidylcholine 20:4n6 (r = 0.314, p = 0.041) and total n6 fatty acids (r = 0.336, p = 0.028) and oppositional and plasma phosphatidylcholine 20:3n6 (r = 0.362, p = 0.018) and red blood cell phosphatidylcholine 20:3n6 (r = 0.401, p = 0.009) and hyperactivity. The findings of the ethnically homogenous children with Asperger's syndrome/high functioning autism study revealed positive associations between 22:5n3 and cognition, and negative relationships between 20:5n3 and 22:6n3 and behavioural problem. In contrast, cognitive ability and behavioural problems were negatively and positively associated with n6 fatty acids. Further investigation is required to establish whether there a cause and effect relationship. Regardless, it would be prudent to ensure that children with the conditions have optimum n3 PUFA intake.

Effects on Fatty Acid Metabolism of a New Powdered Human Milk Fortifier Containing Medium-Chain Triacylglycerols and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Preterm Infants.

Preterm infants require fortification of human milk (HM) with essential fatty acids (FA) to ensure adequate post-natal development. As part of a larger randomized controlled study, we investigated FA metabolism in a subset of 47 clinically stable preterm infants (birth weight ≤1500 g or gestational age ≤32 weeks). Infants were randomized to receive HM supplemented with either a new HM fortifier (nHMF; n = 26) containing 12.5 g medium-chain FA (MCFA), 958 mg linoleic acid (LA), 417 mg α-linolenic acid (ALA), and 157 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per 100 g of powder (in compliance with the latest guidelines) or a fat-free HMF (cHMF; n = 21). Plasma phospholipid (PL) and triacylglycerol (TAG), and red blood cell phosphatidylcholine (RBC-PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (RBC-PE) FA profiles were assessed before and after 21 days of feeding. In the nHMF group, significantly increased levels of n-9 monounsaturated fatty acids were observed, formed most likely by elongation and desaturation of dietary saturated fatty acids present in HM. ALA fortification increased ALA assimilation into plasma TAG. Similarly, DHA fortification enriched the DHA content in RBC-PE, which, in this compartment, was not associated with lower arachidonic acid levels as observed in plasma TAG and phospholipids. RBC-PE, a reliable indicator of FA metabolism and accretion, was the most sensitive compartment in this study.

Biochemical and Psychological Effects of Omega-3/6 Supplements in Male Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial.

An abnormality in long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) levels has been implicated in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies evaluating LC-PUFA supplementation for therapeutic efficacy in ADHD have shown mixed and, therefore, inconclusive results. Seventy-six male adolescents (age 12-16 years, mean = 13.7) with ADHD were assessed for the effects of 12 weeks omega-3 and omega-6 supplements on biochemical and psychological outcomes in a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. The primary outcome measure was change in the Conners' Teacher Rating Scales (CTRS) following 12 weeks of supplementation of LC-PUFA or placebo. At baseline, the placebo and treatment groups had comparable levels of LC-PUFA as measured by red blood cell phosphatidylcholine. In the treatment group, supplementation enhanced eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and total omega-3 fatty acid levels. No superiority of LC-PUFAs to placebo was observed on the primary outcome. Further, there were no reliable treatment effects on aggression, impulsivity, depression, and anxiety. Future studies should use larger sample sizes and longer supplementation period to detect small-modest effects for clinical recommendations in ADHD.

Efficacy of docosahexaenoic acid-enriched formula to enhance maternal and fetal blood docosahexaenoic acid levels: Randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compromises the level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in phospholipids of maternal and fetal red blood cells and fetal plasma. This is of some concern because of the importance of DHA for fetal neuro-visual development. We have investigated whether this abnormality could be rectified by supplementation with DHA-enriched formula. Women with GDM (n=138) recruited from Newham University Hospital, London received two capsules of DHA-enriched formula (active-group) or high oleic acid sunflower seed oil (placebo-group) from diagnosis until delivery. Maternal (baseline and delivery) and fetal (cord blood) red blood cell and plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition, and neonatal anthropometry were assessed. One hundred and fourteen women (58 active, 56 placebo) completed the trial. The active-group compared with the placebo-group had significantly enhanced level of DHA in plasma phosphatidylcholine (4.5% vs 3.8%, P=0.011), red blood cell phosphatidylcholine (2.7% vs 2.2%, P=0.022) and phosphatidylethoanolamine (9.5% vs 7.6%, P=0.002). There was no difference in cord plasma and red blood cell phospholipid DHA between the two groups. The neonates of the two groups of women had comparable anthropometric measurements at birth. Daily supplementation of 600mg DHA enhances maternal but not fetal DHA status in pregnancy complicated by GDM. The inefficacy of the supplement to improve fetal status suggests that the transfer of DHA across the placenta maybe impaired in women with the condition. Regardless of the mechanisms responsible for the impairment of the transfer, the finding has implications for the management of neonates of women with GDM because they are born with a reduced level of DHA and the condition is thought to be associated with a risk of neuro-developmental deficits. We suggest that babies of women with GDM, particularly those not suckling, similar to the babies born prematurely require formula milk fortified with a higher level of DHA.

AB0704 Red blood cell but not plasma phospholipids profile may be associated with the presence of carotid plaques in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

BackgroundAlterations in Phosphatidylcholine (PC) to Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio (PC:PE) have been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions. Auto-antibodies to PC and PE are reported in patients...

Docosahexaenoic Acid in Red Blood Cells of Term Infants Receiving Two Levels of Long‐Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

A randomized, double-blind, prospective trial assessed effects of different formula levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids on blood phospholipid docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6omega3) and arachidonic acids (ARA; 20:4omega6) in term infants at 120 days of age. Healthy, formula-fed term infants (n = 78) were randomized to 1) routine milk-based formula with 8 mg DHA, 21 mg ARA, 110 mg alpha-linolenic (ALA; 18:3omega3), and 1,000 mg linoleic acids (LA; 18:2omega6) per 100 kcal (Lower-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [LCPUFA]; n = 39) or 2) routine milk-based formula with 17 mg DHA, 34 mg ARA, 85 mg ALA, and 860 mg LA per 100 kcal (Higher-LCPUFA; n = 39). Fatty acid methyl esters from red blood cell (RBC) and plasma phospholipid fractions were assessed using capillary column gas chromatography. Compared with infants fed Lower-LCPUFA formula, the Higher-LCPUFA group had significantly greater percentages of fatty acids as DHA in RBC phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), RBC phosphatidylcholine (PC), total RBC, and plasma phospholipids (P < 0.001). Infants fed Lower-LCPUFA formula had higher percentages of precursor omega6 fatty acids in the desaturation/elongation pathway but lower percentages of ARA (RBC PE, RBC PC, and plasma phospholipid, P < 0.001; total RBC, P = 0.017) compared with the Higher-LCPUFA group. Greater amounts of dietary ALA do not produce as great an increase in DHA in blood lipids as preformed dietary DHA. Infants fed DHA at levels similar to human milk had significantly greater percentage of DHAat 120 days of age compared with the Lower-LCPUFA group despite higher precursor levels of ALA.

Increased plasma homocysteine and S-adenosylhomocysteine and decreased methionine is associated with altered phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in cystic fibrosis

ObjectiveWe used a novel approach based on the intersection of phospholipid and methionine metabolism at the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to study potential alterations in phospholipid metabolism in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methyl groups from methionine via SAM are used for sequential methylation of PE to form phosphatidylcholine (PC) with the generation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and homocysteine. Study designPlasma phospholipids and methionine metabolites and plasma and red blood cell phospholipid fatty acids were determined in 53 children with CF and 18 control children. ResultsPlasma methionine and the PC/PE ratio was lower and homocysteine, SAH, and PE were higher in children with CF than in control children (P<.001). Plasma methionine was inversely (P<.05) and SAH and homocysteine were positively (P<.001) correlated with the plasma PE. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was significantly lower in plasma phospholipids and triglycerides and in red blood cell PC and PE of children with CF than in control children (P<.05). ConclusionsThese studies demonstrate that methionine metabolism is altered and associated with alteration of the plasma PC/PE ratio in CF. Altered phospholipid and methionine metabolism may contribute to the clinical complications associated with CF.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids of children with phenylketonuria after controlled linoleic acid intake.

It has been reported that children with classical phenylketonuria (PKU) have reduced levels of arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) in plasma and membrane phospholipids compared to controls and may therefore require supplementation. However, it is not established that these changes are specific for PKU. They may as well be attributed to the specific composition of a largely vegetarian diet used for dietary PKU treatment. We therefore investigated the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids (PL), plasma cholesterol esters (CE), red blood cell phosphatidylcholine (PC), and red blood cell phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in two groups of PKU patients including 8 children between 1 and 6 years (group A), 9 adolescents between 11 and 18 years (group B), and 20 age-matched healthy controls. Group A had good dietary control (median plasma phenylalanine 272 mumol/L during the last 6 months before phospholipid analysis) while median phenylalanine in group B was 714 mumol/L (p < 0.001). When compared to age-matched controls, group A showed significantly lower DHA levels in PE (4.21 vs 5.85 weight% (wt%), p < 0.01), in PC (1.02 vs 1.25 wt%, p < 0.05) and in CE (0.25 vs 0.54 wt%, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference of DHA between group B and controls. AA levels were similar in phospholipids of all groups. We conclude that reduced levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in PKU patients occur only in those patients with strict dietary therapy with respect to n-3 fatty acids, most probably caused by reduced intake of n-3 fatty acids.

Blood lipid docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid in term gestation infants fed formulas with high docosahexaenoic acid, low eicosapentaenoic acid fish oil.

The effect of fish oil high in docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and low in eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) in formula on blood lipids and growth of full-term infants was studied. Infants were fed formula with about 15% oleic acid (18:1), 32% linoleic acid (18:2n-6), 4.9% linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and 0, 0.10, or 0.22% 22:6n-3, or 35% 18:1, 20% 18:2n-6, 2.1% 18:3n-3 and 0, 0.11, or 0.24% 22:6n-3 from 3 d to 16 wk of age (n = 16,18,17,21,17,16, respectively). The formulae had < 0.1% 20:5n-3 and no arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). Breast-fed infants (n = 26) were also studied. Plasma phospholipid and red blood cell (RBC) phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) fatty acids were determined at 3 d and 4, 8, and 16 wk of age. These longitudinal analyses showed differences in blood lipid 22:6n-3 between breast-fed and formula-fed infants depending on the feeding duration. At 16 wk, infants fed formula with 0.10, 0.11% 22:6n-3, or 0.22% 22:6n-3 had similar 22:6n-3 levels in the plasma phospholipid and RBC PC and PE compared with breast-fed infants, and higher 22:6n-3 than infants fed formula without 22:6n-3. Formula with 0.24% 22:6n-3, however, resulted in higher plasma phospholipid 22:6n-3 than in breast-fed infants at 16, but not 4 or 8 wk of age. Plasma and RBC phospholipid 20:4n-6 was lower in formula-fed than breast-fed infants, but no differences in growth were found. Higher blood lipid C20 and C22 n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in infants fed formula with 20% 18:2n-6 and 2.4% 18:3n-3 compared with 32% 18:2n-6 and 4.9% 18:3n-3 show the increase in blood lipid 22:6n-3 in response to dietary 22:6n-3 depending on other fatty acids in the formula.

Hereditary hemolytic disease with increased red blood cell phosphatidylcholine and dehydration: One, two, or many disorders?

We have compared characteristics of red cells from patients who were originally diagnosed as having two different disorders, high phosphatidyl choline hemolytic anemia (HPCHA) and hereditary xerocytosis (HX). Both types of cells had reduced intracellular potassium, with attendant cell dehydration and an increase in the relative amount of membrane phosphatidyl choline. Neither these observations nor a review of previous studies of HX and HPCHA revealed any means of distinguishing between the two disorders. Measurements of chloride-dependent potassium transport revealed flux characteristics in both HX and HPCHA red cells that were different from those in simultaneously run control samples. HX and HPCHA red cells did not show the same kinds of deviations from the normal pattern. However, extensive characterization of transport behavior under a variety of controlled conditions will be required to determine whether these differences represent intrinsic differences in chloride-dependent transport properties. It appears likely that HX and HPCHA both represent a spectrum of disorders resulting from a variety of defects that produce the same general pattern of abnormalities in cation content and membrane phospholipid composition.