gamma-linolenic-acid and Weight-Loss

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of musculoskeletal disability in elderly individuals, and it places an enormous economic burden on society. Management of OA is primarily focused on palliative relief by using agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. However, such an approach is limited by a narrow therapeutic focus that fails to address the progressive and multimodal nature of OA. Given the favorable safety profile of most nutritional interventions, identifying disease-modifying nutritional agents capable of improving symptoms and also preventing, slowing, or even reversing the degenerative process in OA should remain an important paradigm in translational and clinical research. Applying advances in nutritional science to musculoskeletal medicine remains challenging, given the fluid and dynamic nature of the field, along with a rapidly developing regulatory climate over manufacturing and commerce requirements. The aim of this article is to review the available literature on effectiveness and potential mechanism of macronutrients for OA, with a focus on the following: long-chain ω-3 essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, functional ω-6 fatty acid γ-linolenic acid, and macronutrient composition of background diet. There also is a discussion about the concept of rational polysupplementation via the strategic integration of multiple nutraceuticals with potential complementary mechanisms for improving outcomes in OA. As applied nutritional science evolves, it will be important to stay on the forefront of proteomics, metabolomics, epigenetics, and nutrigenomics, because they hold enormous potential for developing novel therapeutic and prognostic breakthroughs in many areas of medicine, including OA.

Topics: Animals; Body Composition; Cartilage, Articular; Dietary Supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fish Oils; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Inflammation; Lipids; Osteoarthritis; Weight Loss

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gamma-linolenate (GLA) supplementation would suppress weight regain following major weight loss. Fifty formerly obese humans were randomized into a double-blind study and given either 890 mg/d of GLA (5 g/d borage oil) or 5 g/d olive oil (controls) for 1 y. Body weight and composition and adipose fatty acids of fasting subjects were assessed at 0, 3, 12, and 33 mo. After 12 subjects in each group had completed 1 y of supplementation, weight regain differed between the GLA (2.17 +/- 1.78 kg) and control (8.78 +/- 2.78 kg) groups (P < 0.03). The initial study was terminated, and all remaining subjects were assessed over a 6-wk period. Unblinding revealed weight regains of 1.8 +/- 1.6 kg in the GLA group and 7.6 +/- 2.1 kg in controls for the 13 and 17 subjects, respectively, who completed a minimum of 50 wk in the study. Weight regain did not differ in the remaining 10 GLA and 5 control subjects who completed <50 wk in the study. In a follow-up study, a subgroup from both the original GLA (GLA-GLA, n = 9) and the original control (Control-GLA, n = 14) populations either continued or crossed over to GLA supplementation for an additional 21 mo. Interim weight regains between 15 and 33 mo were 6.48 +/- 1.79 kg and 6.04 +/- 2.52 kg for the GLA-GLA and Control-GLA groups, respectively. Adipose triglyceride GLA levels increased 152% (P < 0.0001) in the GLA group at 12 mo, but did not increase further after 33 mo of GLA administration. In conclusion, GLA reduced weight regain in humans following major weight loss, suggesting a role for essential fatty acids in fuel partitioning in humans prone to obesity.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Double-Blind Method; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Regression Analysis; Weight Gain; Weight Loss

The capacity of an oil, containing gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), to reduce the severity of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity has been investigated in a rat model. Groups of 12-week-old, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously (i.v.) with single doses (3 mg/kg body weight) of doxorubicin (DOX). Daily for 1 week prior to DOX administration and for up to 20 weeks afterwards groups of rats received either an oil containing both GLA and linoleic acid (So-1100, Scotia Pharmaceuticals), at two dose levels, or an oil containing linoleic acid, but no GLA (So-1129) by oral gavage. Other groups of rats received water as a control. One of the groups of rats that received water also received i.v. ICRF-187 (60 mg/kg) 15 min prior to DOX. A group of animals acted as age-matched controls. The maximum reduction in body weight in the first 2 weeks after the administration of DOX. was used as a measure of acute toxicity. This was most severe in the group receiving a combination of DOX and ICRF-187 (5.6+/-0.43%). Animals receiving 2 ml of either So-1100 or So-1129 were the least affected ( approximately 2.5%). Measurements of cardiac volume output made at various intervals after DOX administration indicated a approximately 35% reduction in cardiac function in the control and So-1129 oil group after 20 weeks. The corresponding reduction in the groups receiving ICRF-187 and 2 ml of So-1100 was approximately 16%. The group receiving daily doses of 1 ml So-1100 showed an intermediate response. The death of an animal with signs of congestive cardiac failure occurred in 40% of the animals in the DOX only control (water) group. There were no deaths in the groups of rats receiving either ICRF-187 or pre- and post-administration of 2 ml of So-1100. It was concluded that an oil containing GLA (So-1100) has similar cardioprotective properties against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity as ICRF-187, but with less general toxicity in this rat model.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Doxorubicin; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Heart Diseases; Linoleic Acid; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Razoxane; Weight Loss

The fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids, cholesteryl esters and triglycerides was measured in 11 obese individuals before and after 2 and 4 weeks treatment with a liquid diet providing about 600 kcal and 70 g protein per day. The patients received 20g of lipid, which was either maize oil and safflower oil (6 patients) or maize oil and evening primrose oil (5 patients). During treatment serum phospholipid linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) concentration remained constant, the dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6) concentration decreased by 44 percent in the safflower oil group and by 37 percent in the evening primrose oil group and the arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) increased by 26 percent in the safflower oil group and by 20 percent in the evening primrose oil group. The increase in phospholipid arachidonate showed a significant positive correlation with total weight loss during the treatment period. These results suggest that during weight reduction there is a increased mobilization of arachidonic acid from tissues and a decreased rate of linoleic acid desaturation and elongation, which was not significantly influenced by providing gamma-linolenic acid in the diet.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Cholesterol Esters; Corn Oil; Diet, Reducing; Energy Intake; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Essential; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents; Linoleic Acids; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Oenothera biennis; Phospholipids; Plant Oils; Safflower Oil; Triglycerides; Weight Loss