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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Studies in adults indicate that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition may play a role in development of adiposity. Because adipocyte quantity is established between late childhood and early adolescence, understanding the impact of PUFAs on weight gain during the school-age years is crucial to developing effective interventions. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We quantified N-3 and N-6 PUFAs in serum samples of 668 Colombian schoolchildren aged 5-12 years at the time of recruitment into a cohort study, using gas-liquid chromatography. Serum concentrations of N-3 (alpha- linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid) and N-6 PUFAs (linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid) were determined as percentage total fatty acids. Children's anthropometry was measured annually for a median of 30 months. We used mixed-effects models with restricted cubic splines to construct population body mass index-for-age z-score (BAZ) growth curves for age- and sex-specific quartiles of each PUFA. RESULTS: N-3 ALA was inversely related to BAZ gain after adjustment for sex, baseline age and weight status, as well as household socioeconomic level. Estimated BAZ change between 6 and 14 years among children in the highest quartile of ALA compared with those in the lowest quartile was 0.45 (95% confidence interval: 0.07, 0.83) lower (P-trend = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: N-3 ALA may be protective against weight gain in school-age children. Whether improvement in PUFA status reduces adiposity in pediatric populations deserves evaluation in randomized trials. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015) 69, 167-172; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2014.210; published online 1 October 2014, INTRODUCTION Childhood obesity poses one of the most serious public health challenges. Many countries, including those in Latin America, (1) have experienced a marked rise in pediatric overweight and obesity [...]

Background: Dietary flaxseed may have beneficial cardiovascular effects. An aged population has a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, but they may react differently to flaxseed in the diet. Objective: To investigate the response, over a period of 4 weeks, of subjects aged 18-29 or 45-69 years to a diet containing the same amount of [alpha]-linolenic acid (ALA) (6 g) introduced in the form of ground flaxseed (30 g) or flaxseed oil. Results: All subjects who received flaxseed oil showed a significant increase in plasma ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrations over the course of this study. Subjects who received ground flaxseed in the 18-29-year-old group showed a statistically significant increase in their plasma ALA levels, and although there was a trend in the same direction for the 45-69-year-old subjects, this did not achieve statistical significance. The diets induced no major changes in platelet aggregation, plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in any of the groups. Younger subjects showed a decrease in triglyceride (TG) values compared with older subjects. There were no significant side effects that caused compliancy issues. Conclusion: Subject age does not seem to be a major determining factor in influencing ALA absorption from a flaxseed- supplemented diet nor in the metabolism of ALA to EPA in the groups fed flaxseed oil. Concerns about side effects in older subjects administered a higher fiber load in a flaxseed-supplemented diet are not justified. However, younger but not older subjects showed a beneficial decrease in circulating TGs due to flaxseed supplementation. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2009.41; published online 8 July 2009 Keywords: omega-3 fatty acid; polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); platelet aggregation; linseed; cardiovascular disease; aging, Introduction Flaxseed contains one of the richest plant sources of the [omega]-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, [alpha]-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is believed to be one of the dietary factors responsible for [...]

The therapeutic and health-promoting effects of (n-3) long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) from fish are well known, although these same benefits may not be shared by their precursor, [alpha]-linolenic acid (ALA). World-wide agencies and scientific organizations (i.e. FDA, AHA, International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids, Institute of Medicine, WHO, etc.) have made similar dietary recommendations for (n-3) LCPUFA; however, due to concerns regarding the safety of consuming fish, alternative sources of (n-3) LCPUFA are being investigated. One such lipid is stearidonic acid (SDA), a naturally occurring (n-3) PUFA that may have similar biological properties to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a major (n-3) PUFA in fish oil. Existing and novel plant sources rich in SDA are being cultivated and promoted as potential alternatives to marine-based (n-3) PUFA. This critical review provides a direct comparison of SDA with other dietary (n-3) PUFA under similar experimental conditions. The comparative results suggest that SDA shares many of the biological effects of (n-3) LCPUFA and functions most similarly to dietary EPA compared with ALA when consumed in a typical Western diet. Therefore, although SDA may not replace fish as a major dietary source of (n-3) LCPUFA, it could become a prominent surrogate for EPA in the commercial development of foods fortified with (n-3) PUFA.

The crossover relationship between cardiometabolic risk, in terms of insulin resistance and vascular dysfunction, and the fatty acid (FA) profile of insulin-sensitive tissues as well as the dietary FA impact has almost never been explored in the same experiment. In this study, the intake of [alpha]-linolenic acid (ALA) alone and/or with its higher metabolites, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were evaluated in a nonobese, hypertriglyceridemic and insulin-resistant rat model, that exhibits the 2 main characteristics of metabolic syndrome. Wistar rats were fed either a cornstarch and (n-6) PUFA-based diet (C-N6) or a 66% fructose diet over a 10-wk period. Fructose-fed rats received a diet containing ALA alone (F-ALA group) or ALA plus EPA and DHA (F-LC3 group) or no (n-3) PUFA (F-N6 group). The 10-wk high-fructose diet (F-N6) induced an insulin-resistant state, as assessed by glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Insulin resistance was linked to a specific FA pattern in insulin-sensitive tissues, which probably involved modifications of [DELTA]9, [DELTA]6, and [DELTA]5-desaturases. This pathological status was related to high cardiovascular risk as assessed by increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and particularly by the increase of pulse pressure, an index of vascular stiffness obtained from telemetry investigations. The (n-3) experimental diets prevented changes in the FA patterns in insulin-sensitive tissues, insulin resistance, and vascular dysfunction. This beneficial effect was large with an intake of long chain (n-3) PUFA (ALA + EPA + DHA) and to a lesser extent with dietary ALA alone.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have significant, cardioprotective effects against ischemia. Hempseed contains a high proportion of the PUFAs linoleic acid (LA) and [alpha]-linolenic acid (ALA), which may have opposing effects on postischemic heart performance. There are no reported data concerning the cardiovascular effects of dietary hempseed intake. A group of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed evenly into four groups that were fed for 12 wk a normal rat chow supplemented with hempseed (5% and 10%), palm oil (1%), or a 10% partially delipidated hempseed that served as a control. Plasma ALA and [gamma]-linolenic acid levels were significantly elevated in the rats that were fed a 5% or 10% hempseed-supplemented diet, but in heart tissue only ALA levels were significantly elevated in the rats fed these diets compared with control. After the dietary interventions were completed, postischemic heart performance was evaluated by measuring developed tension, resting tension, the rates of tension development and relaxation, and the number of extrasystoles. Hearts from rats fed a hempseed-supplemented diet exhibited significantly better postischemic recovery of maximal contractile function and enhanced rates of tension development and relaxation during reperfusion than hearts from the other groups. These hearts, however, were not protected from the occurrence of extrasystoles, nor were the increases in resting tension altered during ischemia or reperfusion as a function of any dietary intervention. Our data demonstrate that dietary hempseed can provide significant cardioprotective effects during postischemic reperfusion. This appears to be due to its highly enriched PUFA content. polyunsaturated fatty acid; nutrition; heart; linoleic acid; alpha linolenic acid

We showed previously that [alpha]-eleostearic acid ([alpha]-ESA; 9Z11 E13 E-18:3) is converted to 9Z11 E-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in rats through a [DELTA] 13-saturation reaction. To investigate this further, we examined the absorption and metabolism of [alpha]-ESA in rat intestine using a lipid absorption assay in lymph from the thoracic duct. In this study, we used 4 test oils [tung oil, perilla oil, CLA-triacylglycerol (TG), and pomegranate seed oil, containing [alpha]-ESA, [alpha]-linolenic acid (LnA; 9Z12 Z15Z-18:3), CLA, and punicic acid (PA; 9Z11 E13Z-18:3), respectively]. Emulsions containing the test oils were administered to rats, and lymph from the thoracic duct was collected over 24 h. The positional and geometrical isomerism of CLA produced by PA metabolism was determined using GC-electron impact (EI)-MS and [sup.13]C-NMR, respectively; the product was confirmed to be 9Z11 E-CLA. A part of [alpha]-ESA and PA was converted to 9Z1 1E-CLA 1 h after administration; therefore the lymphatic recoveries of [alpha]-ESA and PA were modified by the amount of recovered CLA. Cumulative recovery of CLA, [alpha]-ESA, and PA was lower than that of LnA only during h 1 (P < 0.05), and cumulative recovery of [alpha]-ESA and PA was significantly lower than that of LnA and CLA for 8 h (P < 0.05). Therefore, the absorption rate was LnA > CLA > [alpha]-ESA = PA. The conversion ratio of [alpha]-ESA to 9Z11 E-CLA was higher than that of PA to 9Z11 E-CLA over 24 h (P < 0.05). These results indicated that [alpha]-ESA and PA are slowly absorbed in rat intestine, and a portion of these fatty acids is quickly converted to 9Z11 E-CLA.

Objective: To determine the serum cholesterol, apolipoproteins and LDL oxidizability in young Japanese women and men during walnut consumption and to evaluate its active principle. Design: Experimental study with a randomized design. Subjects: Twenty healthy women and 20 healthy men. Interventions: Subjects were randomly assigned to consume each of two mixed natural diets for 4 weeks in a cross-over design. Reference and walnut diets were designed and the walnut diet had 12.5% of the energy derived from walnuts (44-58 g/day). Results: The total cholesterol and serum apolipoprotein B concentrations, and the ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol was significantly lowered in women and men when fed on the walnut diet, than when on the reference diet (P [less than or equal to] 0.05). The LDL cholesterol concentration was significantly lowered in women on the walnut diet (0.22 mmol/l, P=0.0008), whereas this decrease was not significant in men (0.18 mmol/l, P=0.078). The most prominent change in the fatty acid composition of the cholesteryl esters from serum after the walnut diet was an elevation of x-linolenic acid in women (76%, P Conclusions: [alpha]-Linolenic acid in the walnut diet appears to be responsible for the lowering of LDL cholesterol in women. Sponsorship: Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan) and the California Walnut Commission (California, USA). doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601400 Keywords: cholesterol; Japanese diet; [alpha]-linolenic acid; oxidized LDL; walnuts, Introduction In a controlled, randomized, cross-over, clinical study, Sabate et al (1993) showed greater cholesterol-lowering effects of the National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet (30% fat energy) in healthy [...]

Background: Prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in high-risk subjects. Objective: To investigate the associations of dietary intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) as assessed by food frequency questionnaire and in the plasma cholesteryl ester (CE), with CHD risk factors. Design: Baseline data of a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Subjects have hypercholesterolemia (6.0-8.0 mmol/l) and at least two other CHD risk factors (n=266). Results: The reported dietary ALA and LA intakes and the LA/ALA ratio were associated with the contents in the CE (r=0.37, r=0.21, and r=0.42, respectively; P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, CE ALA was inversely associated with diastolic blood pressure (r= - 0.13; P < 0.05) and positively with serum triacylglycerol (r=0.13; P < 0.05), and CE LA was inversely associated with serum triacylglycerol (r=- 0.32; P < 0.01). The CE LA/ALA ratio was strongly inversely associated with CE ALA (r= - 0.95; P < 0.01). In the lowest quintile of CE ALA, mean dietary intake was 0.4 energy % ALA (1.2 g/day), 8.4 energy % LA and an LA/ALA ratio of 21, and in the highest quintile 0.6 energy % ALA (1.7 g/day), 6.8 energy % LA and 12 (ratio). In the lowest quintile of CE ALA the diastolic blood pressure was 4 mmHg lower (P trend < 0.05), and the serum triacylglycerol 0.3 mmol/l higher (P trend NS) when compared with the top quintile. Conclusions: In a CHD high-risk population with LA-rich background diet, these cross-sectional data suggest that replacing LA in the diet by ALA may decrease diastolic blood pressure, and may increase serum triacylglycerol concentration. Sponsorship: Dutch Prevent fund grant no. 28-2757; Unilever (margarine). Descriptors: alpha-linolenic acid; linoleic acid; plasma cholesteryl ester; CHD risk factors; blood pressure; serum triacylglycerol European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 865-871, Introduction The MARGARIN study is a prevention project of coronary heart disease (CHD) through a high-risk approach. The study group is composed of 266 hypercholesterolemic subjects with at least two [...]

Objectives: To study the association between content in adipose tissue of very long-chain n-3 fatty acids, trans fatty acids, linoleic acid and [alpha]-linolenic acid and risk of a first myocardial infarction. Design and subjects: A case-control design among 100 patients and 98 population controls both men and postmenopausal women, age 45-75y. Adipose tissue fatty acids were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Intake data were obtained through interview using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Results: Dietary intake and adipose tissue content of the fatty acids studied correlated significantly. Adipose tissue contents of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) were significantly lower while those of trans fatty acids, linoleic and [alpha]-linolenic acid were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Age and sex adjusted odds ratios (OR) were significantly reduced with increasing quintiles of very long-chain n-3 fatty acids, thus the OR in the fifth compared to the first quintile was 0.23 (95% CI 0.08-0.70). After further adjustment for waist-to-hip ratio, smoking, family history of CHD and content of trans fatty acids, the OR in the highest quintile was 0.17 (95% CI 0.04-0.76) and the P for trend 0.016. Age and sex adjusted OR was increased in the fifth compared to the first quintile of trans fatty acids (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.16-6.84), linoleic acid (OR 2.10, 95% CI 0.87-5.07) and [alpha]-linolenic acid (OR 1.96, 95% CI 0.83-4.61), and P for trend was 0.002, 0.005 and 0.020, respectively. The trends remained significant after adjustment for waist-to-hip ratio, smoking, and family history of coronary heart disease. Trans fatty acids, linoleic acid and [alpha]-linolenic acid in adipose tissue were strongly correlated, indicating a common source, most likely margarine. When each of these fatty acid species were adjusted for the two others the trends were no longer significant. Conclusion: Intake of very long-chain n-3 fatty acids as reflected in adipose tissue content is inversely associated with risk of myocardial infarction. Trans fatty acids, linoleic and [alpha]-linolenic acid were intercorrelated and associated with increased risk. It is suggested that the increased risk may be connected to trans fatty acids or to some other factor associated with margarine consumption. Sponsorship: Throne Holst&apos;s Foundation for Nutrition Research, The Norwegian Association of Margarine Producers, DeNoFa Fabriker A/S, Tine Norwegian Dairies. Descriptors: Trans fatty acids; linoleic acid; [alpha]-linolenic acid; omega-3 fatty acids; coronary heart disease; biological markers, Introduction Increased plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is the dominant risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and recently published secondary (The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group, 1994) and [...]

Fats enriched with rapeseed oil (oleic and linolenic acids) appear to be equally effective in reducing plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared with butter/grapeseed oil, according to research designed to assess a more satisfactory effect on plasma lipoprotein profile of spreads based on dairy fat. There was a 7% fall in plasma cholesterol through replacing butter/grapeseed oil with rapeseed oil enriched fats. This is a significant result, given that it is widely assumed that a 1% fall in plasma cholesterol leads to a 2% fall in CDH risk.

Byline: C.V.S. Srinivas (1), B. Praveena (1), G. Nagaraj (1) Keywords: Carthamin; Fatty acid methyl ester; GC; Gamma linolenic acid; Safflower petal oil Abstract: Safflower petals have been shown to have a lot of medicinal and therapeutic values. Indian safflower petal samples were analyzed for the red pigment carthamin, protein and oil contents. The petal oil (4.0--5.8%) was further analyzed for its fatty acids followed by alpha linolenic acid (15--19%) and palmitic acids (14--16%). Gamma linolenic acid, which has a lot of therapeutic value was present to an extent of 2--3% decanoic and dodecanoic acids (2--5%) were also present. Author Affiliation: (1) Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-, 500 030, India ( Article History: Registration Date: 30/09/2004

An expert workshop reviewing the health aspects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concludes that the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) may be reduced by eating fish at least once a week and that non-fish eaters should seek another source of n-3 PUFA. The workshop also concludes that plant n-3 PUFA, in the form of alpha-linolenic acid, reduces the risk of CHD and that marine n-3 PUFA may ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

In rodents, chronic dietary [Alpha]-linolenic acid deficiency decreases learning and memory and alters dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmission. However, these two neurotransmitter systems are related mainly to attention, emotion and locomotion. Therefore, we decided to investigate the effects of dietary [Alpha]-linolenic acid deficiency in rats tested with animal models of distractibility (the distractometer procedure), anxiety (the elevated plus maze) and ambulatory activity (a circular corridor). Moreover, because these neurochemical modifications persist during aging, we decided to study the effects of aging on these behaviors by using rats aged 2, 6, 12 and 24 mo. An age-related decline in distractibility was observed that was accelerated by linolenic acid deficiency. Indeed, an age-related reduction in distractibility was found in so far as distraction time was reduced at the age of 12 mo in controls and at the age of 24 mo in deficient groups compared with 2-mo-old rats. Moreover, distraction time was significantly lower in 6- and 24-mo-old rats fed a deficient diet compared with age-matched controls. Anxiety was not modified by diet or age. Finally, a parallel decrease in locomotion was exhibited by rats fed both diets between 6 and 12 mo of age. Locomotion was not modified by diet. These results show that dietary [Alpha]-linolenic deficiency alters behavior in a very specific way; distractibility is modified by diet, whereas anxiety and locomotion are not, suggesting that particular brain areas may be altered. KEY WORDS: [Alpha]-linolenic deficiency rats aging behavior

Considerable debate remains regarding the distinct biological activities of individual polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). One of the most interesting yet controversial dietary approaches has been the possible prophylactic role of dietary [Gamma]-linolenic acid (GLA) in treating various chronic disease states. This strategy is based on the ability of diet to modify cellular lipid composition and elcosanold (cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase) biosynthesis. Recent studies demonstrate that dietary GLA increases the content of its elongase product, dihomo-[Gamma]-linolenic acid (DGLA), within cell membranes without concomitant changes in arachidonic acid (AA). Subsequently, upon stimulation, DGLA can be converted by inflammatory cells to 15-(S)-hydroxy-8,11,13-eicosatrienoic acid and prostaglandin [E.sub.1]. This is noteworthy because these compounds possess both anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. Although an optimal feeding regimen to maximize the potential benefits of dietary GLA has not yet been determined, it is the purpose of this review to summarize the most recent research that has focused on objectively and reproducibly determining the mechanism(s) by which GLA may ameliorate health problems. KEY WORDS: [Gamma]-linolenic acid dihomo-[Gamma]-linolenic acid prostaglandin [E.sub.1] 15-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid

The n-3 fatty acid status of premature infants can be maintained through supplementation of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in premature infant formula. Premature infants were fed either an ALA-supplemented formula or non-supplemented milk formula to study the effects of ALA on red blood cell and plasma fatty acids. Breast-fed infants were studied as a reference group. ALA supplementation had limited impact on the n-6 family of essential fatty acids.

An alpha-linolenic acid-enriched diet prevents secondary coronary heart diseases. A study compared the effects of a Mediterranean diet enriched with alpha-linolenic acid on one group of people with a non-Mediterranean control group of the same size. While there were 3 cardiac deaths and 5 nonfatal myocardial infarctions in the experimental group, the control group shows 16 cardiac deaths and 17 nonfatal myocardial infarctions. Fruits, nuts, green and root vegetables, legumes, bread and grains are the main components of a Mediterranean diet.

A number of structural and functional properties are unique to the linoleic acid derivative conjugated dienoic linoleate (CLA). CLA has been proven to inhibit carcinogenesis in animals, such as rat mammary tumorigenesis, mouse forestomach neoplasia and mouse skin carcinogenesis. The highest amounts of these derivatives can be found in ruminant meats, while small amounts can also be found in poultry and eggs as well as dairy products which have been subjected to heat processing.

We investigated the effects of various levels of dietary 18:2(n-6) (linoleic acid) and 18:3(n-3) ([Alpha]-linolenic acid) on the growth, feeding, body composition and metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids in liver and muscle of Arctic charr. Fish were fed 8 or 12 casein-based semipurified diets in two separate experiments for 12 or 14 wk, respectively. Low levels of dietary 18:2(n-6) and 18:3(n-3) supplemented with pure methyl esters or linseed (flax) oil had an additive effect on fish growth. For each 100 g of diet, the addition of 1.6-1.7 g of 18:3(n-3) and 2.6 g of 18:2(n-6) led to significantly lower fish growth compared with the treatment diets with lower amounts of 18:2(n-6). Whereas 18:2(n-6) was converted to 20:4(n-6) and 22:5(n-6) in the absence or presence of dietary 18:3(n-3), the dominant product of 18:3(n-3) conversion was consistently 22:6(n-3). High levels of dietary 18:3(n-3) markedly inhibited the conversion of 18:2(n-6), whereas the inhibition of dietary 18:2(n-6) on 18:3(n-3) conversion was noted only when the ratio of dietary 18:2(n-6) to 18:3(n-3) changed from 1.0 to 1.5. Feeding diets rich in 18:3(n-3) led to a marked accumulation of 18:3(n-3) and 18:4(n-3) in fish muscle but a negligible change in 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3), regardless of the level of 18:3(n-3) in the diets.

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of dietary Gamma-linolenic acid-enriched oil extracted from fungi on rat body composition and on the various enzyme activities relating to fat metabolism in the liver. The oil contained 25.3 g Gamma-linolenic acid/100 g fatty acids. The levels of Gamma-linolenic acid-enriched oil in the diets were 0, 1.5 and 4%, to give 0, 2.88 and 7.68 g Gamma-linolenic acid/kg diet. The control diet contained 8% soybean oil. The rats were given free access to these diets for 4 wk. Body weight gain was less in the Gamma-linolenic acid oil-fed groups than in the control group, although food intake was similar among the three groups. Absolute and relative carcass fat weights were significantly lower in the Gamma-linolenic acid oil-fed groups than in the control group. Carcass protein and water contents were not different among the three groups, although values were slightly greater than controls in Gamma-linolenic acid-fed groups when expressed relative to body weight. Plasma total cholesterol and free fatty acid concentrations generally were lower in the Gamma-linolenic acid oil-fed groups than in the control group. In the liver, there were no significant differences in activities of malic enzyme and citrate cleavage enzyme among the three groups. However, the activities of carnitine palmitoyl-transferase and peroxisomal Beta-oxidation were significantly higher in the Gamma-linolenic acid oil-fed groups than in the control group. These results clearly demonstrate that dietary Gamma-linolenic acid oil reduces body fat content and facilitates fatty acid Beta-oxidation in the liver.

Protein malnutrition with linolenic acid deficiency in rats was assessed. Protein malnutrition resulted in decreased serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol and protein concentration as well as decreased cholesterol lipoprotein fractions. There was also decreased total (n-6) and (n-3) fatty acids in serum, very low density lipoproteins, high density lipoprotein(2-3) and unsaturated:saturated fatty acid ratio. The 18:2 (n-6) fatty acids in triacylglycerol and 20:4(n-6) and 18:2(n-6) in phospholipids were affected the most. The addition of linolenic acid deficiency resulted in these enhanced effects and decreased serum essential fatty acid availability.

Byline: Swapan. Senapati, Sabyasachi. Banerjee, Dwijendra. Gangopadhyay Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, itchy dermatosis of multifactorial origin, which commonly starts in childhood. Defective metabolism of essential fatty [...]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antiatherogenic effects of dietary [Gamma]-linolenic acid (GLA) (primrose oil) in apolipoprotein E (apoE) genetic knockout mice. Five-wk-old male mice were fed cholesterol-free diets containing 10 g/100 g lipid as corn oil (CO) [control diet, 0 mol/100 mol GLA and (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)], primrose oil (PO, 10 mol/100 mol GLA), fish oil-CO mix [FC; 9:1 wt/wt, 0 mol/100 mol GLA and 17 mol/100 mol (n-3) PUFA] or fish oil-PO mix [FP, 1:3 wt/wt, 8 mol/100 mol GLA and 5 mol/100 mol (n-3) PUFA] for 15 wk. Subsequently, diets were supplemented with cholesterol (1.25 g/100 g) and sodium cholate (0.5 g/100 g) and fed for an additional 10 and 16 wk. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels generally did not differ among groups at 20, 30 and 36 wk of age. Mice fed GLA-containing diets (PO and FP) had significantly (P [is less than] 0.05) higher liver phospholipid levels of dihomo-[Gamma]-linolenic acid, the elongated product of GLA, relative to CO and FC groups. Consumption of GLA (PO and FP diets) significantly reduced (P [is less than] 0.05) aortic vessel wall medial layer thickness at 20 and 30 wk. A parallel GLA-dependent suppression in the number of proliferating (proliferating cell nuclear antigen positive) aortic smooth muscle cells was also observed. Diets containing either GLA or (n-3) PUFA reduced (P [is less than] 0.05) atherosclerotic lesion size in 30-wk-old mice. These results indicate that dietary GLA can suppress smooth muscle cell proliferation in vivo and retard the development of diet-induced atherosclerosis in apoE knockout mice. J. Nutr. 131: 1675-1681, 2001. KEY WORDS: * gamma-linolenic acid * fish oil * aortic smooth muscle cells * apoE knockout mouse * atherosclerosis.

The retinal rod outer segment (ROS) is shed and digested daily by phagosomes in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. We previously observed significantly fewer large phagosomes in rats fed an [Alpha]-linolenic acid (ALNA)-deficient diet. Rats fed a safflower oil diet (ALNA-restricted) or a perilla oil diet (ALNA-sufficient) through two generations were adapted to a 24-h cycle with light from 0700 to 1900 h. They were killed at 0500, 0900, 1300 and 1700 h to determine the activities of four lysosomal enzymes in retina, including [Beta]-glucosidase, [Beta]-glucuronidase, hexosaminidase and acid phosphatase. The enzyme activities at 0500 h were the lowest and then increased gradually until 1700 h, exhibiting similar circadian rhythms in the two dietary groups. However, the activities at each time point were significantly lower in the safflower group. In the pineal gland, the activities were maximum at 1300 h, except for [Beta]-glucosidase, and were not different between groups. These diets had qualitatively similar but quantitatively different effects on the fatty acid compositions of the retina and the pineal gland. These results indicate that decreased amplitudes in electroretinogram and altered size distribution of phagosomes, as induced by a restricted intake of ALNA, are associated with decreased lysosomal enzyme activities in the retina but not in the pineal gland. J. Nutr. 130: 3059-3062, 2000. KEY WORDS: * [Alpha]-linolenic acid deficiency * docosahexaenoicacid * retina * lysosomalenzyme * circadian rhythm * rats

Previous studies reveal that supplementation of human diets with [Gamma]-linolenic acid (GLA) reduces the generation of lipid mediators of inflammation and attenuates clinical symptoms of chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, we have shown that supplementation with this same fatty acid also causes a marked increase in serum arachidonate (AA) levels, a potentially harmful side effect. The objective of this study was to design a supplementation strategy that maintained the capacity of GLA to reduce lipid mediators without causing elevations in serum AA levels. Initial in vitro studies utilizing HEP-G2 liver cells revealed that addition of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) blocked [Delta]-5-desaturase activity, the terminal enzymatic step in AA synthesis. To test the in vivo effects of a GLA and EPA combination in humans, adult volunteers consuming controlled diets supplemented these diets with 3.0 g/d of GLA and EPA. This supplementation strategy significantly increased serum levels of EPA, but did not increase AA levels. EPA and the elongation product of GLA, dihomo-[Gamma]-linolenic acid (DGLA) levels in neutrophil glycerolipids increased significantly during the 3-wk supplementation period. Neutrophils isolated from volunteers fed diets supplemented with GLA and EPA released similar quantities of AA, but synthesized significantly lower quantities of leukotrienes compared with their neutrophils before supplementation. This study revealed that a GLA and EPA supplement combination may be utilized to reduce the synthesis of proinflammatory AA metabolites, and importantly, not induce potentially harmful increases in serum AA levels. J. Nutr. 130: 1925-1931, 2000. KEY WORDS: * arachidonic acid * [Gamma]-linolenic acid * inflammation * leukotrienes * neutrophils * humans