docosapentaenoic-acid and Metabolic-Syndrome

Dietary supplementation with echium oil (EO) containing stearidonic acid (SDA) is a plant-based strategy to improve long-chain (LC) n-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status in humans. We investigated the effect of EO on LC n-3 PUFA accumulation in blood and biochemical markers with respect to age, sex, and metabolic syndrome. This double-blind, parallel-arm, randomized controlled study started with a 2-wk run-in period, during which participants (n = 80) were administered 17 g/d run-in oil. Normal-weight individuals from 2 age groups (20-35 and 49-69 y) were allotted to EO or fish oil (FO; control) groups. During the 8-wk intervention, participants were administered either 17 g/d EO (2 g SDA; n = 59) or FO [1.9 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); n = 19]. Overweight individuals with metabolic syndrome (n = 19) were recruited for EO treatment only. During the 10-wk study, the participants followed a dietary n-3 PUFA restriction, e.g., no fish. After the 8-wk EO treatment, increases in the LC n-3 metabolites EPA (168% and 79%) and docosapentaenoic acid [DPA (68% and 39%)] were observed, whereas docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decreased (-5% and -23%) in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, respectively. Compared with FO, the efficacy of EO to increase EPA and DPA in blood was significantly lower (∼25% and ∼50%, respectively). A higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower relative and net increases in EPA and DPA. Compared with baseline, EO significantly reduced serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, oxidized LDL, and triglyceride (TG), but also HDL cholesterol, regardless of age and BMI. In the FO group, only TG decreased. Overall, daily intake of 15-20 g EO increased EPA and DPA in blood but had no influence on DHA. EO lowered cardiovascular risk markers, e.g., serum TG, which is particularly relevant for individuals with metabolic syndrome. Natural EO could be a noteworthy source of n-3 PUFA in human nutrition.

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Echium; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Fish Oils; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Overweight; Phytotherapy; Plant Oils; Seeds; Up-Regulation

The aim of the present study was to compare insulin resistance and metabolic changes using a global lipidomic approach.. Rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or a high-fructose diet (HFrD) for 12 weeks to induce insulin resistance (IR) syndrome. After 12 weeks feeding, physiological and biochemical parameters were examined. Insulin sensitivity and plasma metabolites were evaluated using a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp and mass spectrometry, respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to investigate the strength of correlations.. Rats on both diets developed IR syndrome, characterized by hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, impaired fasting glucose, and IR. Compared with HFrD-fed rats, non-esterified fatty acids were lower and body weight and plasma insulin levels were markedly higher in HFD-fed rats. Adiposity and plasma leptin levels were increased in both groups. However, the size of adipocytes was greater in HFD- than HFrD-fed rats. Notably, the lipidomic heat map revealed metabolites exhibiting greater differences in HFD- and HFrD-fed rats compared with controls. Plasma adrenic acid levels were higher in HFD- than HFrD-fed rats. Nevertheless, linoleic and arachidonic acid levels decreased in HFrD-fed rats compared with controls. Plasma concentrations of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly reduced after feeding of both diets, particularly the HFrD. There was a strong positive correlation between these two fatty acids and the insulin sensitivity index.. The systemic lipidomic analysis indicated that a reduction in DHA and DPA was strongly correlated with IR in rats under long-term overnutrition. These results provide a potential therapeutic target for IR and metabolic syndrome.

Topics: Animals; Diet, High-Fat; Dietary Carbohydrates; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fructose; Insulin Resistance; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Evidence of an association between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and metabolic syndrome (MS) is limited and inconsistent. We investigated the association between n-3 PUFAs in erythrocytes and the presence of MS in Chinese adults.. The levels of α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes were measured using gas chromatography in 3072 participants (900 men and 2172 women) aged 30-75 years from Guangzhou, China. Cardiometabolic factors were determined, and MS was defined using the updated Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Other covariates were collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires.. After adjusting for age and other confounders, higher levels of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs, including EPA, DPA, and DHA, were associated with a lower presence of metabolic syndrome in both men and women. The odds ratios (95 % confidence interval) for MS obtained by comparing extreme quartiles were 0.55 (0.35-0.88) (EPA), 0.54 (0.34-0.87) (DPA), 0.45 (0.27-0.73) (DHA), and 0.52 (0.32-0.84) (total n-3 PUFAs) in men (p trend <0.05 for all results); and 0.74 (0.56-0.99) (EPA), 0.73 (0.55-0.98) (DPA), 0.75 (0.56-1.02) (DHA), and 0.71 (0.53-0.96) (total n-3 PUFAs) in women, respectively. No significant association of ALA with MS was observed (p trend > 0.05).. Higher levels of total n-3 PUFAs, EPA, DPA, and DHA, but not of ALA, in erythrocyte membranes are associated with a lower presence of metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults.

Topics: Adult; Aged; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Asian People; Body Mass Index; China; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, LDL; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Erythrocytes; Exercise; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Triglycerides; Waist Circumference

Evidence regarding the relationship of n-3 fatty acids (FA) to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome components (MetS) is inconsistent.. To examine associations of adipose tissue n-3 FA with MetS.. We studied 1611 participants without prior history of diabetes or heart disease who were participants in a population-based case-control study of diet and heart disease (The Costa Rica Heart Study). We calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for MetS by quartile of n-3 FA in adipose tissue derived mainly from plants (α-Linolenic acid (ALA)), fish (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) or metabolism (docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), as well as the EPA:ALA ratio, a surrogate marker of delta-6 desaturase activity).. N-3 FA levels in adipose tissue were associated with MetS prevalence in opposite directions. The PR (95% CI) for the highest compared with the lowest quartile adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), residence, lifestyle, diet and other FAs were 0.60 (0.44, 0.81) for ALA, 1.43 (1.12, 1.82) for EPA, 1.63 (1.22, 2.18) for DPA and 1.47 (1.14, 1.88) for EPA:ALA, all P for trend <0.05. Although these associations were no longer significant (except DPA) after adjustment for BMI, ALA and DPA were associated with lower glucose and higher triglyceride levels, P<0.05 (respectively).. These results suggest that ALA could exert a modest protective benefit, whereas EPA and DHA are not implicated in MetS. The positive associations for DPA and MetS could reflect higher delta-6 desaturase activity caused by increased adiposity.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adult; Aged; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Animals; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Costa Rica; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diet; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Fishes; Heart Diseases; Humans; Life Style; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Plants

Few studies examined associations of circulating n-3 fatty acid levels with metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Chinese populations who have low consumption of these fatty acids and high risk of developing MetS.. The objective of the study was to determine associations between erythrocyte n-3 fatty acids and MetS as well as its components among middle-aged and older Chinese men and women.. Erythrocyte levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and α-linolenic acid (ALA) were measured by gas chromatography among 2754 participants aged 50-70 yr living in Beijing and Shanghai. MetS was defined using the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian-Americans.. After multivariable adjustment, higher levels of DHA, but neither eicosapentaenoic acid nor docosapentaenoic acid, were associated with lower odds of MetS as well as elevated blood pressure and triglycerides. Comparing extreme quartiles of DHA, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.75 (0.55, 1.01; P for trend = 0.04) for MetS; 0.70 (0.53, 0.92; P for trend = 0.01) for elevated blood pressure; and 0.64 (0.48, 0.87; P for trend = 0.005) for elevated triglycerides. In contrast, ALA concentrations were positively associated with MetS odds (odds ratio 4.06; 95% confidence interval 2.85, 5.80; P for trend <0.001).. Higher concentrations of erythrocyte DHA were associated with lower odds of MetS, whereas higher concentrations of ALA were associated with increased odds among middle-aged and older Chinese. These findings warrant replication in other populations.

Topics: Age Distribution; Aged; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Asian People; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Erythrocytes; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Risk Factors