Essential fatty acids in growth and development

INTRODUCTION 517 TISSUE DISTRIBUTION ........ ....... 519 ACCUMULATION DURING DEVELOPMENT 521 DIETARY DEFICIENCY 523 Studies in Rats . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 523 Studies in Nonhuman Primates. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526 Human Case Studies . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528 FUNCTIONAL EFFECTS IN BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES 528 Biophysical Properties of DHA-rich Membranes . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . 529 Effects on Enzyme Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 530 Lipoxygenase Products of DHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 531 Lipid Peroxidation . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 532 CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS 532

The Essentiality of N-3 Fatty Acids for the Development and Function of the Retina and Brain

New methodology for measuring forage condensed tannin (CT) content is described and the effects of CT upon forage feeding and nutritive value for ruminant animals are reviewed. CT react with forage proteins in a pH-reversible manner, with reactivity determined by the concentration, structure and molecular mass of the CT. Increasing concentrations of CT in Lotus corniculatus and Lotus pedunculatus reduce the rates of solubilization and degradation of fraction 1 leaf protein in the rumen and increase duodenal non-NH3 N flow. Action of medium concentrations of total CT in Lotus corniculatus (30-40 g/kg DM) increased the absorption of essential amino acids from the small intestine and increased wool growth, milk secretion and reproductive rate in grazing sheep without affecting voluntary feed intake, thus improving the efficiency of food conversion. High concentrations of CT in Lotus pedunculatus (75-100 g/kg DM) depressed voluntary feed intake and rumen carbohydrate digestion and depressed rates of body and wool growth in grazing sheep. The minimum concentration of CT to prevent rumen frothy bloat in cattle is defined as 5 g/kg DM and sheep grazing CT-containing legumes were shown to better tolerate internal parasite infections than sheep grazing non CT-containing forages. It was concluded that defined concentrations of forage CT can be used to increase the efficiencies of protein digestion and animal productivity in forage-fed ruminants and to develop more ecologically sustainable systems of controlling some diseases under grazing.

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The implications of condensed tannins on the nutritive value of temperate forages fed to ruminants.

Infant cerebral cortex phospholipid fatty-acid composition and diet.

There is strong evidence indicating that excess adiposity negatively impacts immune function and host defence in obese individuals. This is a review of research findings concerning the impact of obesity on the immune response to infection, including a discussion of possible mechanisms. Obesity is characterised by a state of low-grade, chronic inflammation in addition to disturbed levels of circulating nutrients and metabolic hormones. The impact of these metabolic abnormalities on obesity-related comorbidities has undergone intense scrutiny over the past decade. However, relatively little is known of how the immune system and host defence are influenced by the pro-inflammatory and excess energy milieu of the obese. Epidemiological data suggest obese human subjects are at greater risk for nosocomial infections, especially following surgery. Additionally, the significance of altered immunity in obese human subjects is emphasised by recent studies reporting obesity to be an independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality following infection with the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. Rodent models offer important insight into how metabolic abnormalities associated with excess body weight can impair immunity. However, more research is necessary to understand the specific aspects of immunity that are impaired and what factors are contributing to reduced immunocompetence in the obese. Additionally, special consideration of how infection in this at-risk population is managed is required, given that this population may not respond optimally to antimicrobial drugs and vaccination. Obesity impacts millions globally, and greater understanding of its associated physiological disturbances is a key public health concern.

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The impact of obesity on the immune response to infection.

Objective. To assess 1) knowledge of neural tube defect (NTD) prevention by folic acid, 2) frequency of intake of multivitamins and folate- and folic acid–fortified food, and 3) factors associated with knowledge and prevention practices among sexually active minority adolescent and young adult women. Methods. Young minority women were enrolled in a folic acid program at 3 urban Houston, Texas, reproductive health clinics and assessed for NTD knowledge and preventive practices. A 3-month supply of multivitamins was also dispensed at enrollment. A 3-month program follow-up survey of a randomly selected sample at 2 sites was conducted. Results. Of 387 women (mean age: 18 ± 1.9 years), 72% were black and 28% were Hispanic. At enrollment, clinics were a major source of information of NTD prevention (44%); 52% had heard of folic acid, 45% had heard of NTDs, and 50% had heard of birth defects prevention by multivitamins. Significantly more Hispanic than black young women had heard of NTDs (59% vs 39%). Pregnancy history, regular birth control use, and education level for age were independently associated with knowledge. In young women with low education level for age, regular birth control use was significantly associated with knowledge. At enrollment, daily multivitamin intake was very low (9%) and folate-rich foods were consumed in inadequate amounts. Adequate folate diet was not associated with knowledge. The program follow-up survey indicated that 88% to 92% had knowledge of NTDs and folic acid, and 67% reported taking a daily multivitamin. Conclusions. Publicly funded clinics may be the only source of information on NTD prevention for many minority young women. Preliminary evidence suggests that a promotion program improves knowledge, and dispensing of multivitamins increases multivitamin use. However, clinicians in such programs need to reinforce daily adherence to multivitamins in young women.

Neural tube defects: knowledge and preconceptional prevention practices in minority young women.

Objective: Several studies have noted that obese adolescents and adults achieve lower titers of antibody in response to vaccines such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. The objective of this study was to determine whether use of a longer (1.5-in) rather than a standard (1-in) needle to penetrate the thicker deltoid fat pad among obese youth would result in higher antibody titers after immunization against HBV. Methods: Obese adolescents from a large metropolitan area who had not previously received the HBV vaccine were randomly assigned to be immunized with HBV vaccine by using either a 1-inch or a 1.5-inch needle. Results: Those who were immunized with a 1.5-inch needle achieved significantly higher antibody titers to hepatitis B surface antigen (median titers: 1-inch = 189.8 mIU/mL, 1.5-inch = 345.4 mIU/mL; P = .03). Conclusions: This finding supports the hypothesis that needle length accounts for a significant portion of the discrepancy in immune response to HBV vaccine that is seen among those with obesity.

Effect of Needle Length When Immunizing Obese Adolescents With Hepatitis B Vaccine

Weanling male rats were fed hydrogenated coconut oil to induce essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency. After 15 weeks, the rats were divided into six groups. Five groups were fed graded amounts of purified linolenate (18∶3ω3) with a constant amount of linoleate (18∶2ω6) for six weeks. Fatty acid composition was determined in brain lipids. Increasing dietary 18∶3ω3 resulted in a decrease in arachidonic acid (20∶4ω6), docosatetraenoic acid (22∶4ω6) and docosapentaenoic acid (22∶5ω6), whereas 18∶2ω6 and eicosatrienoic acid (20∶3ω6) were increased both in total lipids and phospholipids. These results suggest that dietary 18∶3ω3 exerts its inhibitory effect mainly on the desaturation of 20∶ω6 to 20∶4ω6 in brain lipids. Linolenate was undetectable in brain lipids from any dietary treatments. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5ω3) in groups receiving dietary 18∶3ω3 were not different from that of the group receiving no 18∶3ω3. These results indicate that, in the brain, 18∶3ω3 is rapidly converted mainly to 22∶6ω3 without being accumulated and imply that dietary 18∶3ω3 can modulate the level of precursor of diene prostaglandins (PG) but not that of triene PG in the rat brain.

Effects of dietary linolenate on the fatty acid composition of brain lipids in rats

Nutritional counseling as an adjunct to psychotherapy in bulimia treatment

"Teens Talk Healthy Weight": the impact of a motivational digital video disc on parental knowledge of obesity-related diseases in an adolescent clinic.

Roberta H. Anding

Papers

Neural tube defects: knowledge and preconceptional prevention practices in minority young women.

Effect of Needle Length When Immunizing Obese Adolescents With Hepatitis B Vaccine

Effects of dietary linolenate on the fatty acid composition of brain lipids in rats

Nutritional counseling as an adjunct to psychotherapy in bulimia treatment

"Teens Talk Healthy Weight": the impact of a motivational digital video disc on parental knowledge of obesity-related diseases in an adolescent clinic.