gamma-linolenic-acid and Cardiovascular-Diseases

The etiology of diet-related disorders is closely associated with dietary factors. A special role is attributed to intake of fat and fatty acid profile, both quantitative and qualitative. For prevention and treatment of the abovementioned diseases a proper supply of unsaturated fatty acids plays a significant role, because of their particular importance to health. γ-Linolenic acid (GLA), with three double bonds in the carbon chain, also known as all-cis 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid, belongs to the n-6 family of fatty acids. It plays biologically important functions in the human body, such as being a substrate for eicosanoids synthesis, involvement in the transport and oxidation of cholesterol, and being one of the components of lipid membrane. Its inadequate dietary intake or impaired formation is the cause of many inflammatory and degenerative diseases. A rich source of this fatty acid is vegetable oils, until recently used mainly in folk medicine. Nowadays, studies conducted both in animal models and in humans suggest its health-promoting properties in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and rheumatoid arthritis.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dermatitis, Atopic; Dry Eye Syndromes; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Metabolic Diseases; Neoplasms

Topics: Aged; Autoimmune Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Child; Dermatitis, Atopic; Diabetes Mellitus; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Linolenic Acids; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Inflammation plays a key role and is one of the early steps in the pathogenesis of endothelial function, thereby increasing the risk of hypertension (HTN), coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and several other risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the efficacy for improving cardiovascular health (blood pressure, inflammation and endothelial reactivity) over a 4-week intervention period in healthy individuals.. We performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to investigate Curcumin, Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Astaxanthin and Gamma -linoleic acid (GLA) (CEAG) supplements with 80 individuals (30 men and 50 women). The mean age of participants was 48.8 ± 16.0 years. Participants were enrolled and randomized to active or placebo and followed for 4 weeks. Paired and Independent T-tests were used to analyze the mean differences between and within groups.. The primary endpoints of the study were the effect on inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP), endothelial function and blood pressure at 4 weeks. There was a significant reduction in mean SBP at 4 weeks in the CEAG group compared to placebo [mean ± SD 4.7 ± 6.8 (p = 0.002)]. Relative to placebo, active group showed a significant decrease in High sensitivity C Reactive Protein (hsCRP) (-0.49 ± 1.9 vs + 0.51 ± 2.5, p = 0.059) and blunted increase in IL-6 (+0.2 vs + 0.4 in placebo, p = 0.60).. Inflammatory markers were reduced or blunted by CEAG, with a robust increase in both EPA levels and the fatty acid index. Furthermore, systolic BP was reduced over 4 weeks with concurrent improvement in endothelial function. CLINICALTRIALS.. NCT03906825.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; Blood Pressure; C-Reactive Protein; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Artery Disease; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Endothelium; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Hypertension; Interleukin-6; Male; Middle Aged; Xanthophylls; Young Adult

The cardioprotective properties of linoleic acid (LA), a major n-6 (ω-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), have been recognized, but less is known about its associations with other causes of death. Relatively little is also known about how the minor n-6 PUFAs-γ-linolenic acid (GLA), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA)-relate to mortality risk.. We investigated the associations of serum n-6 PUFAs, an objective biomarker of exposure, with risk of death in middle-aged and older men and whether disease history modifies the associations.. We included 2480 men from the prospective Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, aged 42-60 y at baseline in 1984-1989. The stratified analyses by baseline disease status included 1019 men with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, or diabetes and 1461 men without a history of disease.. During the mean follow-up of 22.4 y, 1143 deaths due to disease occurred. Of these, 575 were CVD deaths, 317 were cancer deaths, and 251 were other-cause deaths. A higher serum LA concentration was associated with a lower risk of death from any cause (multivariable-adjusted HR for the highest compared with the lowest quintile: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.71; P-trend < 0.001) and with deaths due to CVD (extreme-quintile HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.74; P-trend < 0.001) and non-CVD or noncancer causes (HR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.76; P-trend = 0.001). Serum AA had similar, although weaker, inverse associations. Serum GLA and DGLA were not associated with risk of death, and none of the fatty acids were associated with cancer mortality. The results were generally similar among those with or without a history of major chronic disease (P-interaction > 0.13).. Our findings showed an inverse association of a higher biomarker of LA intake with total and CVD mortality and little concern for risk, thus supporting the current dietary recommendations to increase LA intake for CVD prevention. The finding of an inverse association of serum AA with the risk of death needs replication in other populations.

Topics: 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; Adult; Arachidonic Acid; Biomarkers; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Diet; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Follow-Up Studies; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Incidence; Linoleic Acid; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors

Experimental data raised the specter of increased cardiovascular risk with selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. The study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular risk caused by celecoxib by studying its effect on blood pressure (BP) and thrombogenesis in rats. We tested the possible protective effects of evening primrose oil (EPO) or ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs). Male Wistar rats were assigned to the following groups: vehicle, celecoxib, celecoxib/n-3 PUFAs, celecoxib/EPO, n-3 PUFAs, and EPO. The rats were treated with celecoxib (20 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) by gastric gavage for 6 weeks. The mean BP was recorded, and blood samples were collected for testing prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. Platelet aggregation assay and collagen-induced platelet consumption test were used as models of thrombogenesis. Celecoxib increased the BP without affecting coagulation parameters and accelerated thrombogenesis by increasing platelet aggregation and collagen-induced thrombocytopenia. EPO and n-3 PUFAs decreased the celecoxib-induced elevation in BP. Although EPO significantly decreased platelet aggregation and collagen-induced thrombocytopenia, n-3 PUFAs did not. Celecoxib elevated BP and increased the risk of thrombogenesis in rats. A combination of celecoxib and the selected natural supplements is suggested as a novel approach to minimize cardiovascular risk caused by celecoxib.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Celecoxib; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Male; Oenothera biennis; Plant Oils; Pyrazoles; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Risk Factors; Sulfonamides; Thrombosis; Treatment Outcome

Dietary intake of linolenic acid is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality. However, the mechanisms by which dietary linolenic acid affects cardiovascular disease risk are not clearly understood.. We examined the association between dietary linolenic acid and plasma triacylglycerol concentrations.. In a cross-sectional design, we studied 4440 white subjects (2036 men and 2404 women) aged 25-93 y who participated in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study. We used generalized linear models to estimate adjusted mean triacylglycerol concentrations according to categories of total dietary linolenic acid (alpha- and gamma-linolenic acid) intake.. The mean dietary linolenic acid intakes were 0.81 and 0.69 g/d for the men and the women, respectively. High consumption of dietary linolenic acid was associated with young age; high intakes of energy, fat, carbohydrates, fruit, vegetables, and fish; low HDL cholesterol; current smoking; and frequent consumption of creamy salad dressing. High consumption of dietary linolenic acid was also associated with low plasma triacylglycerol concentrations. From the lowest to the highest quintile of linolenic acid intake, the multivariate-adjusted mean triacylglycerol concentrations were 1.75 (95% CI: 1.65, 1.85), 1.74 (1.66, 1.82), 1.69 (1.61, 1.77), 1.66 (1.58, 1.74), and 1.54 (1.44, 1.64) mmol/L, respectively (P for linear trend = 0.007). When linolenic acid was used as a continuous variable, the corresponding regression coefficient was -0.2811 (-0.4922, -0.07001).. Consumption of total linolenic acid is inversely related to plasma triacylglycerol concentrations in both white men and white women. This suggests a pathway by which dietary linolenic acid might reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding Behavior; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Life Style; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Triglycerides

In an open study, the authors compared two groups of insulin-dependent diabetics matched for age and metabolic control, one of which was given a linoleic-gamma-linolenic acid mixture (3 g daily), the other served as control. The effect, attributed to gamma-linolenic acid only, was evaluated as explained in the text and is shown in the table. At the end of two months no change was found in the control group while favorable changes of HDL-cholesterol and platelet adhesiveness were observed in the experimental group.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Apolipoproteins; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Fatty Acids, Essential; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents; Linoleic Acids; Linolenic Acids; Male; Middle Aged; Oenothera biennis; Plant Oils; Risk Factors; Triglycerides