Unsaturation Index Research Articles

The polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic affects mitochondrial function in prostate cancer cells

BackgroundProstate cancer (PCa) shows a rewired metabolism featuring increased fatty acid uptake and synthesis via de novo lipogenesis, both sharply related to mitochondrial physiology. The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that exerts its antitumoral properties via different mechanisms, but its specific action on mitochondria in PCa is not clear. Therefore, we investigated whether the DHA modulates mitochondrial function in PCa cell lines.MethodsHere, we evaluated mitochondrial function of non-malignant PNT1A and the castration-resistant (CRPC) prostate 22Rv1 and PC3 cell lines in response to DHA incubation. For this purpose, we used Seahorse extracellular flux assay to assess mitochondria function, [14C]-glucose to evaluate its oxidation as well as its contribution to fatty acid synthesis, 1H-NMR for metabolite profile determination, MitoSOX for superoxide anion production, JC-1 for mitochondrial membrane polarization, mass spectrometry for determination of phosphatidylglycerol levels and composition, staining with MitoTracker dye to assess mitochondrial morphology under super-resolution in addition to Transmission Electron Microscopy, In-Cell ELISA for COX-I and SDH-A protein expression and flow cytometry (Annexin V and 7-AAD) for cell death estimation.ResultsIn all cell lines DHA decreased basal respiratory activity, ATP production, and the spare capacity in mitochondria. Also, the omega-3 induced mitochondrial hyperpolarization, ROS overproduction and changes in membrane phosphatidylglycerol composition. In PNT1A, DHA led to mitochondrial fragmentation and it increased glycolysis while in cancer cells it stimulated glucose oxidation, but decreased de novo lipogenesis specifically in 22Rv1, indicating a metabolic shift. In all cell lines, DHA modulated several metabolites related to energy metabolism and it was incorporated in phosphatidylglycerol, a precursor of cardiolipin, increasing the unsaturation index in the mitochondrial membrane. Accordingly, DHA triggered cell death mainly in PNT1A and 22Rv1.ConclusionIn conclusion, mitochondrial metabolism is significantly affected by the PUFA supplementation to the point that cells are not able to proliferate or survive under DHA-enriched condition. Moreover, combination of DHA supplementation with inhibition of metabolism-related pathways, such as de novo lipogenesis, may be synergistic in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Enhancing Acetate Utilization in Phaeodactylum tricornutum through the Introduction of Acetate Transport Protein.

The diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, known for its high triacylglycerol (TAG) content and significant levels of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has a limited ability to utilize exogenous organic matter. This study investigates the enhancement of acetate utilization in P. tricornutum by introducing an exogenous acetate transport protein. The acetate transporter gene ADY2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae endowed the organism with the capability to assimilate acetate and accelerating its growth. The transformants exhibited superior growth rates at an optimal NaAc concentration of 0.01 M, with a 1.7- to 2.0-fold increase compared to the wild-type. The analysis of pigments and photosynthetic activities demonstrated a decline in photosynthetic efficiency and maximum electron transport rate. This decline is speculated to result from the over-reduction of the electron transport components between photosystems due to acetate utilization. Furthermore, the study assessed the impact of acetate on the crude lipid content and fatty acid composition, revealing an increase in the crude lipid content and alterations in fatty acid profiles, particularly an increase in C16:1n-7 at the expense of EPA and a decrease in the unsaturation index. The findings provide insights into guiding the biomass and biologically active products production of P. tricornutum through metabolic engineering.

Detection of coconut oil adulteration with palm oil through NMR spectroscopic method

Coconut oil is a costly commodity in the food and traditional medicinal sectors and its adulteration with cheap palm oil is a serious issue. The present study evaluates the application of 1H NMR spectroscopy to authenticate coconut oil, and to monitor its adulteration with the cheap palm oil substitute. Various parameters such as average chain length (14.25), saponification index (244.66 mg KOH/100 g), molecular weight (652.12), iodine value (8.27 mg/100 g), peroxide value (0.02 meqO2/kg) and percentage of unsaturation (7.81%) were calculated through the NMR technique, and were found to be in concurrence with the values obtained from wet lab experiments. The extent of palm oil adulteration can be detected through NMR by evaluating the chemical shift values for olefinic protons. The findings have a significant impact on both the food and traditional medicine sectors, as NMR spectroscopy can replace the conventional wet lab methods as a reliable and precise method for analysis.

Effect of linolenic acid on triterpenoids production by the liquid fermentation of Antrodia cinnamomea.

Liquid state fermentation is now a commonly used route to obtain triterpenoids from Antrodia cinnamomea, and linolenic acid can significantly promote triterpenoids synthesis, whereas its action mechanism has not been studied. Here, we comprehensively performed an investigation on the mechanism of linolenic acid to promote triterpenoids production in liquid-state fermentation of A. cinnamomea. Results showed that the addition of linolenic acid increased the unsaturated fatty acid index, fluidity, and permeability in the cell membrane of A. cinnamomea mycelia, favored the absorption of nutrients in the medium by the mycelium, enhanced the material exchange inside and outside, and thus promoted mycelial growth and triterpenoids synthesis. Moreover, 767 significantly differentially expressed genes were detected by adding linolenic acid, including 212 upregulated genes and 555 downregulated genes. The upregulated genes were mainly enriched in metabolism, glycolytic pathway, TCA cycle, and pyruvate metabolism. It was seen that the addition of linolenic acid improved the cell metabolic activity and promoted the synthesis of secondary metabolites, proving that the addition of linolenic acid improved the metabolic viability of cells and promoted secondary metabolite synthesis.

Metabolic insights into high-altitude adaptation of Himalayan ‘Horsetails’ [Equisetum diffusum D. Don] with special reference to the fatty acid dynamicity

Equisetum diffusum D. Don, a perennial herb of Equisetaceae, is considered as native to the Himalayan mountain range. This plant has prolific distribution along different altitudes of Eastern Himalayan region. Generally, mountain flora, like E. diffusum, experience a combination of contrasting abiotic stresses and may represent a unique natural model for investigating physiological resilience to address climate change. So, the present study has been framed to compare the metabolic responses in E. diffusum growing at different elevation belts with an aim to understand the underlying basis for their high-altitude adjustment ability. The biochemical profiles of this plant, collected from three different altitudinal transects of Darjeeling hills, were compared. The fatty acid profiles of neutral lipids, membrane phospholipids and glycolipids demonstrated palmitic acid and oleic acid as the predominant fatty acids. The major outcome was the substantial increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and unsaturation index in glycolipids of the samples collected from higher altitudes. Major proportion of changes in PUFA content was contributed by arachidonic acid. Therefore, the plants homeostatically control the membrane fluidity by enhancing the unsaturation of glycolipid fatty acids. Moreover, significantly higher antioxidant enzyme activities in higher altitude samples reflect the involvement of these enzymes in coping with the oxidative stress condition and membrane damage. The stress responsive effects may be further augmented by enhanced content of secondary metabolites. Therefore, a combination of biochemical responses along with the changes in membrane plasticity can be predicted as the metabolic adjustment strategies for high-altitude adaptation of E. diffusum.

Changes in Fatty Acid Profiles in Seeds of Camellia oleifera Treated by Mycorrhizal Fungi and Glomalin

Camellia oleifera is an important oilseed forest tree, but it is unknown whether and how inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as well as spraying easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EG), regulates the fatty acid profile in seeds of this species. This study explored how inoculation with Rhizophagus intraradices (800 g inoculum/tree) and spraying EG (2.5 L/tree, four times in total, once a week) modulated the fatty acid profile for potential nutritional qualities in the seeds of 20-year-old C. oleifera. Spraying exogenous EG significantly increased fruit transverse diameter, longitudinal diameter, fruit weight, number of seeds, and seed weight but had no significant effect on the root mycorrhizal colonization rate. Inoculation with R. intraradices had no significant effect on these fruit traits but significantly boosted the root mycorrhizal colonization rate. A total of 11 saturated fatty acids and 12 unsaturated fatty acids were detected from the seeds, with the unsaturated fatty acids consisting primarily of C18:1N-12, C18:1N-9C, and C18:2-N6. Spraying exogenous EG significantly increased the levels of major unsaturated fatty acid components such as C18:1N-12, C18:1N-9C, C18:1N-7, and C18:2N-6 by 140.6%, 59.7%, 97.6%, and 60.6%, respectively, while decreasing the level of C16:0. Inoculation with R. intraradices only decreased the levels of C16:0 and C18:0, while increased the level of C18:2N-6. Both treatments increased the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in total fatty acids, resulting in an increase in the unsaturation index of fatty acids. In addition, inoculation with R. intraradices significantly up-regulated the expression of CoFAD2, spraying exogenous EG significantly increased the expression of CoSAD, CoFAD2, and CoFAD3, and both treatments also significantly suppressed the expression of CoFAE. These findings suggested that exogenous EG as a biostimulant, is more suitable to regulate the nutritional values of fatty acids in seeds of 20-year-old C. oleifera.

Antioxidant, anti-amylase, anti-lipase, and efficiency of Satureja fatty acid on the anti-inflammatory parameters in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage through Nrf2/NF-kB/NADH oxidase pathway

Satureja is an aromatic plant that is used for flavoring, perfume, and food manufacturing due to its pleasant essential oil. Modern medicine research revealed several biological activities of Satureja essential oil, including antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory. However, the functional properties of Satureja fatty acid have not been explored. This study examined the fatty acid profile, lipid nutritional quality, antioxidant, anti-amylase, and anti-lipase capacities of Satureja. The efficiency of Satureja fatty acid on the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory parameters in LPS-induced macrophage through the Nrf2/NF-kB/NADH oxidase pathway was examined. The whole lipid extract was prepared with chloroform/methanol/water solution. Fatty acids methyl ester from whole lipid extract were prepared with methanol/sulfuric acid reagent. The fatty acid profile was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total antioxidant was determined by ABTS decolorization. Lipase and amylase activities were determined by monitoring the decomposition of p-nitrophenyl butyrate and starch. The macrophage cell line was grown in DMEM media in the presence of fatty acid. The hydrogen peroxide production in treated cells was monitored using the FOX reagent. NADH oxidase activity was measured by monitoring NADH breakdown. The expression of NOX, NF-kB, and NRF2, were tested in the treated cells by real-time PCR. The main components of the Satureja fatty acid were linolenic acid (24.67–37.32%), palmitic acid (10.65–20.29%), linoleic acid (8.31–13.39%), oleic acid (4.42–14.35%), stearic acid (2.76–8.77%) and palmitoleic acid (1.77–4.95%). Given the nutritional quality, omega-3 PUFA (23.58–37.32%), SFA (21.53–26.70%), omega-6 PUFA (10.86–16.14%), omega-9 MUFA (4.42–14.35%), and omega-7 MUFA (1.77–4.95%) comprise the majority of fatty acids. Satureja fatty acid has a promising unsaturation index (120.77–164.27), PUFA/MUFA (2.07–6.41), hypocholesterolemic index (2.44–3.47), health-promoting index (2.03–2.42), PUFA/SFA (1.37–1.94), nutritive value index (0.53–1.71), MUFA/SFA (0.30–0.80) omega-6/omega-3 (0.34–0.65), atherogenicity index (0.41–0.49), and thrombogenicity index (0.17–0.27). Satureja fatty acid displayed strong antioxidant capacity (with IC50 ranging from 354 to 428 µg/mL), anti-lipase capacity (with IC50 ranging from 354 to 428 µg/mL), and anti-amylase capacity (with IC50 ranging from 370 to 390 µg/mL). LPS induced the expression of NOX, NRF2, and NF-kB and the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in macrophage cells. In LPS-stimulated macrophages, Satureja fatty acid reduced NOX expression, hydrogen peroxide, and NF-kB expression and increased NRF2 at 0.04 mg/mL. In conclusion, Satureja fatty acids have potent antioxidant, anti-amylase, anti-lipase, and anti-inflammatory activities. The mechanisms in lowering oxidative stress markers depended on down-regulating superoxide-producing enzymes at gene and protein levels. Satureja polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids could be recommended for healthy products combined with dietary therapy to treat obesity, diabetes, and oxidative stress.

The Effect of Combined Exposure of Fusarium Mycotoxins on Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Defense, Fatty Acid Profile, and Histopathology in Laying Hens' Liver.

Fumonisin B1, T-2 toxin, and deoxynivalenol are frequently detected in feed materials. The mycotoxins induce free radical formation and, thereby, lipid peroxidation. The effects of mycotoxin exposure at the EU recommended limit (T-2/HT-2 toxin: 0.25 mg/kg; DON = 3AcDON/15-AScDON: 5 mg/kg; fumonisin B1: 20 mg/kg) and double dose (T-2/HT-2 toxin: 0.5 mg/kg, DON/3-AcDON/15-AcDON: 10 mg, and FB1: 40 mg/kg feed) were investigated during short-term (3 days) per os exposure in the liver of laying hens. On day 1 higher while on day 3 lower MDA concentrations were found in the low-dose group compared to the control. Fatty acid composition also changed: the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids increased (p < 0.05) and the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased by day 3. These alterations resulted in a decrease in the index of unsaturation and average fatty acid chain length. Histopathological alterations suggested that the incidence and severity of liver lesions were higher in the mycotoxin-treated laying hens, and the symptoms correlated with the fatty acid profile of total phospholipids. Overall, the findings revealed that mycotoxin exposure, even at the EU-recommended limits, induced lipid peroxidation in the liver, which led to changes in fatty acid composition, matched with tissue damage.

Improving the soil K+/Na+ ratio under moderate salt stress synergistically increases the yield and quality of cotton fiber and cottonseed

Cotton production areas have been shifted to saline-alkaline soils with high Na+ content, resulting in low soil K+/Na+ ratios, leading to K+ deficiency in cotton, which is detrimental to the yield and quality of the fiber and cottonseed. It was hypothesized that improving the soil K+/Na+ ratio by applying potassium under moderate salt stress could affect the contents of K+ and Na+ in various organs of cotton bolls. This could affect the growth and biomass distribution of the cotton bolls, ultimately impacting the yield and quality of both the fiber and the cottonseed. To test this hypothesis, a pot experiment using the cotton cultivar CCRI-79 was conducted in 2021 and 2022, and the results showed that improving the soil K+/Na+ ratio under moderate salt stress (1) increased the cotton boll K+/Na+ ratio, accelerated boll growth, and increased the proportion of boll biomass distributed to the fiber and the cottonseed kernel. (2) increased fiber and cottonseed yield. Specifically, the boll retention rate and the number of fruit nodes increased, thereby increasing the boll number. The increase in boll weight can be explained by an increase in the components of fiber and cottonseed yield per boll. Compared with those in the control soil without added salts (C), the fiber and cottonseed yield at a K+/Na+ ratio of 1:9 (SK2) were only 7.1%–21.0% and 4.9%–17.0% lower, respectively. (3) increased fiber and cottonseed quality. SK2 can completely alleviate the effects of moderate salt stress on fiber uniformity, length, and micronaire. And the fiber strength of SK2 is only 5.0%–7.2% lower than C. The oil content and yield of cottonseed kernels increased, and the total unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) and unsaturated index (UI) increased. Although the protein content decreased, the protein yield increased, and the total amino acid (TAA) content increased. SK2 and C did not differ significantly in oil and protein contents. Taken together, these findings indicate that the optimal alleviation of moderate salt stress on the yield and quality of fiber and cottonseed was achieved at a K+/Na+ ratio of 1:9. These results will help to synergistically increase the yield and quality of cotton fiber and cottonseed in saline-alkaline soil and provide new clues for elucidating the mechanism through which the K+/Na+ ratio regulates salt tolerance in cotton.

Significant Increase in Oxidative Stress Indices in Erythrocyte Membranes of Obese Patients with Metabolically-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated hepatic steatosis (MAFLD) indicates the metabolic risk associated with hepatic steatosis, overweight and obesity, and clinical evidence of metabolic dysregulation. Since MAFLD is one of the diseases that show a high frequency of alterations in the lipid content of cell membranes, the aim of this study was to evaluate the indices of oxidative damage of erythrocyte membranes in overweight and obese MAFLD subjects. The study was conducted on serum samples and red blood cell membranes of overweight and obese MAFLD subjects. For each patient, biochemical measurements and lipidomic analyses of erythrocytes membranes were performed. Significant differences in fatty acid profiles of RBC membranes were found between overweight and obese patients. In particular, the Peroxidation Index (PI) was higher in the erythrocyte membranes of obese subjects than in overweight subjects. The same behavior was observed for Unsaturation Index (UI) and Free Radical Stress Index (Free RSI), supporting the fact that the systemic increase in oxidative stress was associated with obesity. The study shows that there is a different susceptibility to erythrocyte membrane peroxidation for overweight and obese subjects, and the increased values of oxidative stress indices observed in the erythrocyte membranes of obese patients with MAFLD may be a possible indicator of pro-oxidative events occurring in obesity-related diseases.

Nutritional Quality and Safety Assessment of Pork Meat Cuts from Romania: Fatty Acids and Elemental Profile.

In this study, the fatty acids and elemental profiles of 53 pork cut samples were determined. To offer insights into their potential health implications, we computed 18 key nutritional indices. These indices included parameters such as saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), the MUFAs/SFAs ratio, PUFAs/SFAs ratio, atherogenic index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI), the hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic ratio (h/H), health-promoting index (HPI), hypocholesterolemic index (HI), unsaturation index (UI), saturation index (SI), peroxidizability index (PI), nutritional value index (NVI), hypocholesterolemic index of fatty acids (DFAs), hypercholesterolemic index of fatty acids (OFAs), and the DFAs/OFAs ratio. These indices were calculated based on their fatty acid composition to provide comprehensive nutritional information. A health risk assessment revealed the safety and minimum health risk for the population from consuming the investigated pork cuts using the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), and target cancer risk (TR). The ANOVA test showed significant differences in the levels of K, Fe, Mn, Zn, MUFAs, and AI among the pork cut samples. It was noted that by employing the correlation between the fatty acids profile, nutritional indices, and elemental concentrations and an unsupervised statistical method, such as PCA, a perfect separation from the different pork cuts could not be obtained.

Unsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 index and hospitalization in MISC

The growing interest in Omega-3 fatty acids as diagnostic markers or new therapeutic approaches also for COVID-19 disease, led us to investigate the presence of potential correlations between Omega-3 fatty acids’ levels in whole blood and days of hospitalization or admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in 51 children with MIS-C diagnosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between days of hospitalization and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3,DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total Omega-3 FA levels. Dividing the study group into quartiles according to Omega-3-Index (O3I), no statistically significant difference was observed with respect to the PICU admission rate. In contrast, the number of days of hospitalization in Q4 (O3I ≥ 2.51 %) was different from the number observed in groups Q1-3 (O3I < 2.51 %), with subjects showing higher O3I needing shorter hospitalizations than the subjects with lower O3I. According to previous study investigating O3I in adults affected by Sars-cov-2 we explored the levels of this nutrients in children with MIS-C. Our exploratory study shows that high DPA, DHA and O3I levels could be effective in reducing the length of hospitalization.

Lipidomics studies reveal dynamic changes in polar lipids of developing endosperm of oat and wheat varieties with differing oil contents

Polar lipids have biosynthetic pathways which intersect and overlap with triacylglycerol biosynthesis; however, polar lipids have not been well characterized in the developing endosperms of oat with high oil accumulation. The polar lipids in endosperms of oat and wheat varieties having different oil contents were analyzed and compared at different developmental stages. Our study shows that the relative contents of polar lipid by mass were decreased more slowly in wheat than in oat. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major phospholipids, which showed similar abundance and gradual decreases during endosperm development in oat and wheat, while lysophospholipids were noticeably higher in oat. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol showed a gradual increase in wheat and a decrease in oat during endosperm development. The relative contents of some polar lipid species and their unsaturation index were significantly different in their endosperms. These characteristics of polar lipids might indicate an adaption of oat to accommodate oil accumulation.

Paleoceanographic importance of tri- and di-unsaturated alkenones through the early phase of Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 from southern high latitudes of the proto-Indian Ocean

Alkenones are biomarkers derived exclusively from species of haptophyte algae. The relative abundance of di- to tri-unsaturated C37 alkenones expressed as UK'37 is widely applied as a sea surface paleotemperature proxy for Cenozoic marine sediments. However, the absence of alkatrienones prior to the Eocene has precluded application of the UK'37 proxy for assessment of Cretaceous paleoclimates. Herein, we report a C40 alkatrienone (tetraconta-9E, 16E, 23E-trien-3-one; C40:3 Et) in deep-sea sediments from southern high latitudes (International Ocean Discovery Program: IODP site U1516). This discovery extends the geologic record of alkatrienones to the late Cenomanian, ∼70 million years earlier than previous reports. The parallel occurrence of higher abundances of a C40 alkadienone (tetraconta-16E, 23E-dien-3-one; C40:2 Et) allowed calculation of the UK’40 unsaturation index, comparable to UK’37. Stratigraphic variations in the δ13C of C40:2 Et revealed an elevated (∼1.5 ‰) positive carbon isotope excursion (CIE) relative to those observed in carbonate from other OAE2 sequences likely reflecting a decrease in global pCO2. The UK’40 profile suggests a concurrent drop in sea surface temperature associated with the decline in pCO2 during the early phase of OAE2. The timing of these environmental perturbations in the southern high latitude of the proto-Indian Ocean suggests they were triggered by volcanism associated with large igneous province (LIP) formation.

Short- and Long-Term Effects of Split-Suckling in Pigs According to Birth Weight.

Forty-eight litters were used, with a total number of 645 piglets involved in the study. The split-suckling technique was applied to half of the litters at the end of farrowing by removing the heaviest piglets over three periods of 1 h. The piglets were individually weighed at 0, 1 d, and at weaning. Piglet losses were recorded daily. Traceability was maintained until the carcass splitting and meat analysis took place. Carcasses were eviscerated and weighed individually. Total mortality at weaning was affected by body weight, where the low-body-weight piglets showed a mortality rate almost four times higher than that of the normal-weight piglets. Mortality was highest in the first days of life, especially in the low-body-weight piglets. At weaning, split-suckling treatment caused a slight increase in mortality compared to the control group piglets (25% vs. 17.1%). Split-suckling had a positive effect on weight gain during the first 24 h of life (p = 0.014), and there was an interaction between treatment and parity (p = 0.007), with split-suckling being more effective in the primiparous sows compared to the multiparous sows. The piglets from litters receiving the split-suckling treatment had a lower average daily gain during the lactation period (p < 0.001) than the piglets from the control group. Weight gain during the first 24 h of life of the piglets subjected to split-suckling was higher than those of the control group. A lower IgG and α-tocopherol in plasma in the heavier piglets subjected to split-suckling treatment was observed in comparison to their respective control. The piglets from litters receiving the treatment showed a lower average daily gain during the lactation period (p < 0.001) than the piglets from the control group. No difference in slaughter weight was observed according to treatment. The pigs which received split-suckling treatment showed lower subcutaneous fat thickness (p < 0.0013) and higher lean meat yield (p < 0.0027), this effect being more marked in pigs from primiparous sows. Intramuscular fat concentration was higher in the Longissimus Dorsi muscle of the low-body-weight piglets. In the pigs that received split-suckling treatment, a higher concentration of C18:3n-3 (p = 0.036) and a tendency towards a higher concentration of C18:2n-6 (p = 0.107) and unsaturation index (p = 0.113) was observed in intramuscular fatty acids at slaughter, together with a lower concentration of C16:0 (p = 0.053) and SFA (p = 0.064). In conclusion, long-term response to split-suckling, particularly in low-birth-weight piglets, suggests an alteration in adiposity and metabolic regulation in these piglets that receive high levels of colostrum.

Meat fatty acids profile including metabolic, qualitative, nutritional indices, and organoleptic evaluation as affected by Rumex nervosus leaves meal fortified broiler diets

The effects of dietary supplementation with Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) on fatty acid (FAs) indices, organoleptic evaluation, performance index, and feed efficiency were investigated. This study consists of five treatments. Broilers in treatments 1–4 received basal feed plus RNL at doses of 0, 1, 3, and 5 g/kg, while broilers in treatment 5 received basal feed plus the antibiotic Colimex. On day 34, FAs profile and organoleptic assessment were evaluated, and performance index and feed efficiency were determined for the entire experimental period. Results showed that FAs profile of the breast meat was affected by treatments with varying degrees (p˂0.05). The 1 g RNL resulted in the highest eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid, which resulted in the highest meat lipid quality, the highest elongation index, improved organoleptic characteristics, and tended to improve performance index, feed efficiency, and nutritional index. The 5 g RNL treatment reduced total saturated fatty acids (ƩSFAs), omega-6/omega-3 ratio, especially linoleic acid/α-linolenic acid ratio, alanine aminotransferase, and increased total omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturation index, and Δ9-desaturase. In conclusion, RNL can be introduced to broiler diets, especially at an incorporation rate of 1 g, and it promotes broiler health and performance because it contains phytoconstituents that can alter the content and indices of FAs meat and improve storability and sensory quality.

Enhanced spectral resolution for correlated spectroscopic imaging using inner-product and covariance transform: a pilot analysis of metabolites and lipids in breast cancer in vivo

Acquisition duration of correlated spectroscopy in vivo can be longer due to a large number of t1 increments along the indirect (F1) dimension. Limited number of t1 increments on the other hand leads to poor spectral resolution along F1. Covariance transformation (CT) instead of Fourier transform along t1 is an alternative way of increasing the resolution of the 2D COSY spectrum. Prospectively undersampled five-dimensional echo-planar correlated spectroscopic imaging (EP-COSI) data from ten malignant patients and ten healthy women were acquired and reconstructed using compressed sensing. The COSY spectrum at each voxel location was then generated using FFT, CT and a variant of CT called Inner Product (IP). Metabolite and lipid ratios were computed with respect to water from unsuppressed one-dimensional spectrum. The effects of t1-ridging artifacts commonly seen with FFT were not observed with CT/IP. Statistically significant differences were observed in the fat cross peaks measured with CT/IP/FFT. Spectral resolution was increased ~ 8.5 times (~ 19.53 Hz in FFT, ~ 2.32 Hz in CT/IP) without affecting the spectral width along F1 was possible with CT/IP. CT and IP enabled substantially increased F1 resolution effectively with significant gain in scan time and reliable measure of unsaturation index as a biomarker for malignant breast cancer.

Eicosapentaenoic acid influences the pathogenesis of Candidaalbicans in Caenorhabditiselegans via inhibition of hyphal formation and stimulation of the host immune response

The intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), is associated with health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory properties. This fatty acid also exhibits antifungal properties in vitro. In order to determine if this antifungal property is valid in vivo, we examined how EPA affects Candidaalbicans pathogenesis in the Caenorhabditiselegans infection model, an alternative to mammalian host models. The nematodes were supplemented with EPA prior to infection, and the influence of EPA on C.elegans lipid metabolism, survival and immune response was studied. In addition, the influence of EPA on hyphal formation in C.albicans was investigated. It was discovered that EPA supplementation changed the lipid composition, but not the unsaturation index of C.elegans by regulating genes involved in fatty acid and eicosanoid production. EPA supplementation also delayed killing of C.elegans by C.albicans due to the inhibition of hyphal formation in vivo, via the action of the eicosanoid metabolite of EPA, 17,18-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid. Moreover, EPA supplementation also caused differential expression of biofilm-related gene expression in C.albicans and stimulated the immune response of C.elegans. This provides a link between EPA and host susceptibility to microbial infection in this model.

Does slaughter age affect amino acids and fatty acids profiles and health and nutritional values of male and female ROSS 308 broiler chicken breast muscle?

Chemical composition, amino acids (AAs), and fatty acid (FAs) profiles, and health and nutrition values of breast muscle of ROSS 308 broiler chickens were studied after being slaughtered at 28, 35, 42, and 49 d of age (n=126 males and 126 females/slaughter age). The slaughter age significantly affected some AAs levels including glutamic acid, valine, isoleucine, histidine, and leucine, and some FAs level including capric acid, tetradecanoic acid, eicosanoic acid, total saturated fatty acids, 9-pentadecenoic acid, hexadecatetraenoic acid, α-linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, linoleic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, adrenic acid, omega 6, sum polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ʃ PUFAs), and unsaturation index. Subsequently, the slaughter age significantly affected some health indexes including the n-6/n-3 ratio, thrombogenic index, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio, and health-promoting index. Valine, leucine, isoleucine, histidine, and glutamic acid levels increased with increasing slaughter age until 35 d of age and then decreased with increasing slaughter age until 49 d of age. Moreover, the health indices of fatty acids were best at slaughter age of 35 d, followed by 49 d, and the lowest health-promoting indices were at 42 d, followed by 28 d. The sex did not affect (P ˃ 0.05) all the evaluating parameters including chemical composition, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and related health indices. There was no significant interaction effect between sex and slaughter age in all evaluating parameters except in stearidonic acid level. In conclusion, amino acids and fatty acids profiles and health and nutritional values of male and female ROSS 308 broiler chicken breast muscle can be affected by slaughter age. The study provides valuable insights into the nutritional value of meat, including its composition, amino acid, and fatty acid profiles, and associated health indices, for both male and female fast-growing ROSS 308 broiler chickens, as the slaughter age increases.

Lighting intensity affects the fatty acid composition of total lipids of basil leaves and roots (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The vegetative organs of common basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in water culture at different levels of illumination (50, 100, and 150 μmol PAR quanta/(m2 s)) for 21 days were studied. In the work, the Purple Velvet basil variety, which is popular in agriculture and has intensely colored leaves was used. The biomass, water content, and composition of fatty acids (FA) of total lipids in the leaves and roots of plants and the content of malondialdehyde and chlorophylls (a, b) in the aerial parts of plants were determined. The sensitivity of the FA composition and morphophysiological parameters (biomass and chlorophyll content in leaves) of O. basilicum plants to the intensity of illumination was shown. The greatest effect was caused by the illumination intensity mode of 150 μmol/(m2 s). Species composition of O. basilicum FA under all lighting conditions was wider in root lipids; however, more pronounced changes in the qualitative composition of Fas were observed in leaves. Photodependent regulation of FA component composition of O. basilicum manifested itself in an increase in the proportion of unsaturated FAs, especially polyene ones, which led to an increase in the unsaturation index (UI) of esterified lipid FAs. The highest UI values were obtained with illumination of 150 μmol/(m2 s). At the same time, with an increase in the illumination intensity, a significant increase in the activity of ω-3 and ω-9-desaturases occurred, which indicates in favor of their lightdependent activation. Thus, increasing the intensity of lighting to certain values directly proportionally affects the physiological parameters of O. basilicum. The maximum indicators of productive growth and the implementation of adaptive mechanisms of green and underground parts of basil plants correspond to illumination of 150 μmol/(m2 s).