Showing papers on "Docosahexaenoic acid published in 1977"

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in endogenous depression.

Abstract: The fatty acid composition of the plasma choline phosphoglycerides (CPG) and erythrocyte ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (EPG) were detemined in a series of patients suffering from endogenous depression, a number of patients from the same ward with non-depressive psychiatric disorders, and a number of age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. A significantly higher proportion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5omega3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6omega3), was found in the subjects with endogenous depression compared with the controls. This change was reflected to a lesser extent in the erythrocyte EPG. The proportions of the two prostaglandin precursors gamma-dihomolinolenic acid (20:3omega6) and arachidonic acid (20:4omega6) were similar in both groups. The fatty acid composition of the plasma CPG and erythrocyte EPG of a number of subjects from the same ward with non-depressive psychiatric disorders did not differ from that of the healthy controls. It is suggested that the analysis of the fatty acid composition of plasma CPG may be of diagnostic value and could be involved in the pathology of endogenous depression.

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in pollock liver oil on growth and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout.

Abstract: A feeding experiment was conducted to compare the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6ω3) with that of linolenic acid (18:3ω3) on growth and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout. The growth rate was much reduced in fish kept on a diet containing 0.5% 18:3ω3. the replacement of 0.5%18:3ω3 with either 0.5%20:5ω3 or 0.5%22:6ω3 markedly increased the growth rate. This result indicates that 20:5ω3 has the same growth enhancing effect as 22:6ω3 and that not only 22:6ω3 but also 20:5ω3 has an EFA efficiency higher than 18:3ω3. The best weight gain was obtained in fish on a diet containing 0.25%of each of 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3 respectively, indicating an additive effect between 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3 on the growth of rainbow trout. The ratio of 20:3ω9 to 22:6ω3 in livers, an FEA index of rainbow trout, appeared as a low value, 0.4-0.5, in the fish fed diets containing either 20:5ω3 or 22:6ω3. This indicates a nearly normal FEA status, whereas the ratio of the fish receiving 0.5% 18:3ω3 was 0.8, which indicates an insufficient EFA status. Thus it has been demonstrated that both 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3 have a biological efficiency or an EFA efficiency higher than of 18:3ω33 and that the growth enhancing effect of Pollock liver oil is due to an additive effect between 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3 in its fatty acid fraction.

Nutritional effects of partially hydrogenated low erucic rapeseed oils

Abstract: The incidence of cardiac lesions in male rats fed rapeseed oil (Brassica campestris, cultivar ‘Span’) was lower with partially hydrogenated oil (iodine value 78) than with the liquid oil which had been treated in various ways. Another rapeseed oil (Brassica napus, cultivar ‘Tower’) was similarly improved when hydrogenated to iodine value 76.6, but not at iodine value 97.1, as demonstrated in both Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats. The improved nutritional quality of hydrogenated oil appeared not to be related to the decreased concentration of linolenic acid, because that fatty acid in linseed oil with or without erucic acid did not increase the incidence of lesions. A relatively high concentration of docosahexaenoic acid in the cardiac fatty acids was observed in adversely affected groups, but a lower concentration was found with the appropriately hydrogenated rapeseed oil.

Dietary Essential Fatty Acids, Brain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and Prostaglandin Biosynthesis

Abstract: The adult brain contains high levels of polyenoic fatty acids deriving from linoleic (18:2 Δ9,12 n — 6) and from linolenic acid (18:3 Δ9,12,15 n — 3). The two major polyunsaturated fatty acids (Pufa) present in brain are arachidonic acid (20:4 Δ5,8,11,14) of the linoleic acid series and especially docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 Δ4,7,10,13,16,19) of the linolenic acid series. The higher levels of 22:6 in brain, in comparison with other tissues, suggest a special function of the n-3 fatty acid family in nervous system. It has been recently found, for instance, that the electrical response of rod outer segments in the retina to illumination is affected by dietary induced changes of 22:6 n-3 levels in this tissue (Wheeler et al., 1970).

Changes in the fatty acid composition of rat lung lipids during development and following age-dependent lipid peroxidation.

Abstract: Analyses of the fatty acid content and composition of various lung lipids were conducted in rats 1 day, 5 days, and 12 days after birth and in adult animals in order to define more clearly the specific lipid peroxidizing system found in neonatal rat lungs. Lipid peroxidation occurs in the 900×g supernatant fraction of rat lung homogenates in an age-dependent manner independent of the addition of any factor and is maximal at 5 days of age. No lipid peroxidation is evident in similar preparations of either newborn or adult lung tissue. As the animals develop, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, fatty acids which are both highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation in the presence of a suitable catalyst, decrease gradually when measured as the percentage of the total fatty acids in the triglyceride fraction of the lung. The total quantity of triglycerides, however, is significantly lower in lungs from 1-day-old rats than at any other age. The fatty acid composition and total quantity of both lung phospholipids and lung free fatty acids do not show similar changes. Following in vitro incubation of the 900×g supernatant fraction of peroxidizing lung homogenates, an appreciable decrease in the amount of arachidonic and docosa-hexaenoic acid could be detected in lung triglycerides. Less extensive decreases were observed in the phospholipid fraction. No changes in these components were observed in newborn or adult animals. The addition of triarachidonin to the 900×g supernatant fraction of lung homogenates resulted in increased malondialdehyde release at all ages tested while added arachidonic acid increased the formation of malondialdehyde only in 5- and 12-day-old rat lung preparations. The addition of triolein, cholesterol arachidonate, and diarachidonyl phosphatidylcholine had no effect on malondialdehyde formation at any age. The age-dependent lipid peroxidation observed after in vitro incubation of rat lung homogenate preparations, therefore, may result from the relatively high concentration of triglycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acids present in the neonatal tissue. As the susceptible polyunsaturated fatty acids of lung triglycerides are replaced by less unsaturated species, this activity may diminish concomitantly.

Hypocholesterolemic effect induced in rats by oil-sardine (Sardinella longiceps) fish and sardine oils having different degrees of unsaturation.

Abstract: Oil-sardine (Sardinella longiceps) fish and its oil were found to have pronounced hypocholesterolemic effect in cholesterol bile salt stressed rats. Effect of fish was more than that observed with its oil. “Stearin” free or solvent winterized sardine oil with more unsaturation showed better effect than sardine oil as such. A significant correlation was observed between iodine value, ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids and (2S-P) value of dietary fats, and logarithm of therminal serum total cholesterol (TC). Similarly a correlation between square root of iodine value and terminal serum TC was also observed. However, cholesterol lowering effect was not predictable on the basis of linoleic, arachidonic eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acid contents.