docosapentaenoic-acid and eicosapentaenoic-acid-ethyl-ester

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs), which are essential fatty acids that humans should obtain from diet, have potential benefits for human health. In addition to altering the structure and function of cell membranes, omega-3 PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)) exert different effects on intestinal immune tolerance and gut microbiota maintenance. Firstly, we review the effect of omega-3 PUFAs on gut microbiota. And the effects of omega-3 PUFAs on intestinal immunity and inflammation were described. Furthermore, the important roles of omega-3 PUFAs in maintaining the balance between gut immunity and the gut microbiota were discussed. Additional factors, such as obesity and diseases (NAFLD, gastrointestinal malignancies or cancer, bacterial and viral infections), which are associated with variability in omega-3 PUFA metabolism, can influence omega-3 PUFAs-microbiome-immune system interactions in the intestinal tract and also play roles in regulating gut immunity. This review identifies several pathways by which the microbiota modulates the gut immune system through omega-3 PUFAs. Omega-3 supplementation can be targeted to specific pathways to prevent and alleviate intestinal diseases, which may help researchers identify innovative diagnostic methods.

Topics: Animals; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Intestines

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the major cause of death and disability worldwide, and residual risk after implementing all current therapies is still high. In this context, the latest (2016) European Cardiology Society/European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines recommend that triglyceride (TG)-lowering drugs should be used in high-risk patients with TGs levels >2.3 mmol/L (200 mg/dL), after lifestyle measures fail to lower them. After several neutral CVD outcome trials with n-3 fatty acids, the Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with EPA-Intervention Trial met its primary end point, that is, among patients with elevated TGs levels despite the use of statins, the risk of ischemic events, including cardiovascular death, was significantly lower in those who received 4 g of icosapent ethyl daily. In this review, we comment on the findings of previous and recently published randomized controlled CVD outcome trials assessing n-3 fatty acids supplementation. Both efficacy and safety, as well as future perspectives, are discussed.

Topics: Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Dyslipidemias; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Humans; Lipids; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Adult; C-Reactive Protein; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Male; Middle Aged; Triglycerides

The beneficial effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on depression are not definitively known. In a previous population-based prospective cohort study, we found a reverse J-shaped association of intake of fish and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), the intermediate metabolite of EPA and DHA, with major depressive disorder (MDD). To examine the association further in a cross-sectional manner, in the present study we analyzed the level of plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFAs and the risk of MDD in 1,213 participants aged 64-86 years (mean 72.9 years) who completed questionnaires and underwent medical check-ups, a mental health examination, and blood collection. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for MDD according to plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFA quartiles. MDD was diagnosed in 103 individuals. There were no significant differences in any n-3 PUFAs (i.e., EPA, DHA, or DPA) between individuals with and without MDD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between any individual n-3 PUFAs and MDD risk. Overall, based on the results of this cross-sectional study, there appears to be no association of plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFAs with MDD risk in the elderly Japanese population.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder, Major; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Japan; Male; Odds Ratio; Phospholipids; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors

Topics: alpha-Linolenic Acid; Animal Feed; Animals; Breeding; Cheese; Dairying; Diet; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Linseed Oil; Milk; Plant Oils; Pregnancy; Rumen; Sheep

This study was designed to explore the relationship in between the daily consumption of fish oil (360mg DHA+540mg EPA), and reduction of symptoms and violent behavior among patients with schizophrenia.. Fifty inpatients meeting ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia and scoring more than four of Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) with antipsychotics treatment were randomly assigned to receive either fish oil (N=28) or a placebo (N=22) in a twelve week, double-blind supplementation trial. Assessments were performed at baseline and at weeks 4, 8 and 12.. The PANSS and CGI scores decreased at the week of 4, 8 and 12, but no differences were found between the two groups. MOAS scores declined significantly at weeks 4, 8 and 12. At week 12, MOAS scores of the fish oil group declined significantly than the placebo group (t=-2.40, P<0.05).. violent schizophrenia patients treated with fish oil (360mg DHA+540mg EPA) demonstrated a decrease in violence, but improvement in positive and negative symptoms was no greater than patients treated with the placebo after twelve weeks.

Topics: Adult; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology; Violence; Young Adult

High intake of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been associated with a variety of health benefits. However, the role of ω-3 PUFAs in female reproductive function is unclear, with studies showing both positive and negative effects. The type of diet that ω-3 fatty acids are consumed with, for example, a balanced diet vs a high-fat diet (HFD), may influence how ω-3 fatty acids affect female reproductive function. To address the role of ω-3 PUFAs in female reproduction, we used the fat-1 mouse both with and without HFD exposure. Fat-1 mice constitutively express the fat-1 transgene, allowing the conversion of ω-6 to ω-3 fatty acids to yield an optimal tissue ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 fatty acids (∼1:1). In our study, at 15 weeks of age, fat-1 mice had elevated primordial follicles compared with wild-type controls with both standard chow and HFD feeding. Higher serum levels of the ω-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were positively associated with primordial follicle numbers, whereas the ratio of the ω-6 arachidonic acid to EPA + DPA + DHA had the opposite effect. Furthermore, fat-1 mice had increased pregnancy rates and shorter time to pregnancy when fed an HFD compared with wild-type mice. In conclusion, our novel preclinical model suggests that high tissue levels of long-chain ω-3 PUFAs are associated with an improved ovarian reserve and improved reproductive outcomes. Further studies are needed to evaluate ω-3 PUFAs as a potential intervention strategy in women with diminished ovarian reserve.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Diet, High-Fat; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Fertility; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Transgenes

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been hypothesised to be protective for depression during pregnancy. However, there are few data and no consensus regarding this association. In this line, we aim to evaluate if the concentration of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, and their ratio, are associated with depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy.. A prospective cohort of 172 Brazilian women was followed at 5-13th, 20-26th and 30-36th weeks of gestation. The presence of depressive symptoms was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at each pregnancy trimester. Depression was defined as an EPDS score ≥11. The concentrations of n-3 [α-linolenic acid; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] and n-6 PUFAs [linoleic acid; γ linolenic acid; eicosadienoic acid; eicosatrienoic acid; arachidonic acid; docosatetraenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid] were expressed as absolute (μg/ml) values. The total n-6/n-3 ratio was calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using univariate and adjusted random intercept logistic model for each fatty acid (FA) considering the longitudinal nature of data. Covariates were selected as potential confounders based on their biological plausibility of having an association with the concentration of FA and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was high in all pregnancy trimesters (1st = 33.7%; 2nd = 18.9%; 3rd = 17.4%). We did not find differences in means FA concentrations by depressive symptom classification, for each follow-up visit. The women presented a 5% decrease in the odds of having depressive symptoms for each one-week increase in the gestational age. As individual women progressed through pregnancy, higher concentrations of EPA (odds ratio (OR) = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.99), DHA (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.99), DPA (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77-0.99) and total n-3 (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99) were associated with a lower odds of depressive symptoms, while higher total n-6/n-3 ratio were associated with greater odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.09-1.79). We detected a decrease in the probability of depressive symptoms as concentrations of total n-3 FA, α-linolenic acid, DPA, and DHA increased. We also observed a sharper decline for women with initial greater chance of depressive symptoms compared with those with lower chance of having these symptoms.. We found a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in low-income Brazilian pregnant women and no significant associations between n-6 FA and depressive symptoms. Lower serum concentrations of DHA, EPA and DPA and a higher n-6/n-3 ratio at each pregnancy trimester were associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy.

Topics: Adult; Brazil; Depression; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Poverty; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimesters; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Young Adult

The physiological activity of fish oil, and ethyl esters of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affecting hepatic fatty acid oxidation was compared in rats. Five groups of rats were fed various experimental diets for 15 days. A group fed a diet containing 9.4% palm oil almost devoid of n-3 fatty acids served as a control. The test diets contained 4% n-3 fatty acids mainly as EPA and DHA in the form of triacylglycerol (9.4% fish oil) or ethyl esters (diets containing 4% EPA ethyl ester, 4% DHA ethyl ester, and 1% EPA plus 3% DHA ethyl esters). The lipid content of diets containing EPA and DHA ethyl esters was adjusted to 9.4% by adding palm oil. The fish oil diet and ethyl ester diets, compared to the control diet containing 9.4% palm oil, increased activity and mRNA levels of hepatic mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation enzymes, though not 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity. The extent of the increase was, however, much greater with the fish oil than with EPA and DHA ethyl esters. EPA and DHA ethyl esters, compared to the control diet, increased 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity, but fish oil strongly reduced it. It is apparent that EPA and DHA in the form of ethyl esters cannot mimic the physiological activity of fish oil at least in affecting hepatic fatty acid oxidation in rat.

Topics: Acyl-CoA Oxidase; Animals; Coenzyme A; Dietary Fats; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fish Oils; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Mitochondria, Liver; Oxidation-Reduction; Palm Oil; Peroxisomes; Phospholipids; Plant Oils; Rats; Triglycerides

When orally administered to rats, 14C-labelled ethyl eicosapentaenoate (14C-EPA-E) was hydrolyzed and, in the lymph, incorporated mainly into triglycerides (TG) in chylomicrons. In plasma and other tissues, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and its metabolites, such as docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were detected in TG and phospholipid fractions. In plasma, EPA and its metabolites were found to be integrated into lipoproteins. Tissue distribution of these metabolites showed characteristic patterns from one tissue to another, as did their compositional distribution in lipids. EPA, DPA and DHA were found to be metabolized via beta-oxidation in in vitro experiments with mitochondrial fraction.

Topics: Acyl Coenzyme A; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Dogs; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Lipid Metabolism; Lipoproteins; Male; Mitochondria, Liver; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Tissue Distribution