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Alternative sources of bioactive omega-3 fatty acids: what are the options?
No full textPurpose of review: the very-long chain (VLC) omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) EPA and DHA promote optimal development, physiological function and healthy ageing and help to manage disease. EPA and DHA are sourced mainly from fish, which is not sustainable. This review explores alternative sustainable sources.Recent findings: recent research confirms that higher intake and status of EPA and DHA are associated with health benefits including lower risk of incident type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease mortality. Meta-analyses confirm benefits of intravenous EPA and DHA in hospitalised adults. Algal oils and seed oils from some genetically modified (GM) plants are sources of EPA and DHA. An oil from GM camelina showed equivalence with fish oil in human trials. Ahilflower oil, a source of stearidonic acid, had biological effects in experimental studies that might translate into health benefits. An intravenous lipid emulsion based on Ahiflower oil has been tested in experimental research. Pine nut oil (PNO) is a source of pinolenic acid, which is not an omega-3 PUFA but has similar actions.Summary: algal oils, oils from GM seed crops, Ahiflower oil and other sources of stearidonic acid, and non-omega-3 oils including PNO, are plant-sourced sustainable alternatives to fish-sourced VLC omega-3 PUFAs.<br/
Identifying and understanding anti-inflammatory effects of 18-carbon fatty acids from sustainable plant sources
No full textEpidemiological studies and randomised control trials demonstrate an association between high consumption of very-long chain (VLC) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and long-term health benefits. One of the key actions of EPA and DHA is to reduce inflammation. The principal source of EPA and DHA is oily fish. Current stocks of fatty fish are likely not sufficient to meet the needs of humans for VLC n-3 PUFAs. Alphalinolenic acid (ALA), stearidonic acid (SDA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and pinolenic acid (PIN) may provide sustainable land-based sources of FAs to promote human health, but their functionality has been underexplored, including in relation to inflammation. Dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) plays a vital role in the development of atherosclerosis. Incorporation of DHA, and to a lesser extent EPA, into EC lipids has been shown to decrease cytokine-induced expression of adhesion molecules and secretion of inflammatory mediators.The research described in this thesis explores the effects of ALA, SDA, GLA and PIN, in comparison with EPA and DHA, as well as different ratios of linoleic acid (LA) to ALA on inflammatory responses of a cultured EC line (EA.hy926 cells).All FAs examined were incorporated into the ECs in a dose-dependent manner, with several elongation products being synthesised; of these the elongation product of PIN, eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA), was successfully identified using GC-MS. Of the two marine-derived FAs DHA had the most potent anti-inflammatory effect in EA.hy926 cells. Both EPA and DHA decreased production of all inflammatory mediators studied, cell surface expression of ICAM-1, and intracellular inflammatory proteins, and significantly modulated the expression of various inflammatory genes. DHA decreased adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to EA.hy926 cells under static conditions. Of the plant-derived FAs, GLA and PIN caused the greatest reduction in inflammatory mediator production. Gene expression was altered by both GLA and SDA; additionally, SDA reduced cell surface expression of ICAM-1. Lastly, all plant-derived FAs decreased THP-1 adhesion to EA.hy926 cells. FA effects were concentration dependent. No plant-derived FA was as potent as DHA. Silencing of the elongase 5 gene significantly inhibited the production of DGLA and ETrA in EA.hy926 cells pre-treated with GLA and PIN. Furthermore, most of the anti-inflammatory effects of GLA and PIN were abolished by silencing elongase 5 suggesting that GLA and PIN act via their elongation products. ALA and ratios of LA to ALA containing higher concentrations of ALA were anti-inflammatory in EA.hy926 cells.These findings confirm anti-inflammatory effects of EPA and DHA in ECs. New anti-inflammatory actions of plant-derived FAs are identified, although these FAs are less potent than DHA. Nevertheless, these findings suggest that plant-derived FAs, especially GLA and PIN have potential as sustainable anti-inflammatory alternatives to EPA and DHA. Further research on these FAs is warranted
A review of the functional effects of pine nut oil, pinolenic acid and its derivative eicosatrienoic acid and their potential health benefits
No full textPine nut oil (PNO) is rich in a variety of unusual delta-5-non-methylene-interrupted fatty acids (NMIFAs), including pinolenic acid (PLA; all cis-5,-9,-12 18:3) which typically comprises 14 to 19% of total fatty acids. PLA has been shown to be metabolised to eicosatrienoic acid (ETA; all cis-7,-11,-14 20:3) in various cells and tissues. Here we review the literature on PNO, PLA and its metabolite ETA in the context of human health applications. PNO and PLA have a range of favourable effects on body weight as well as fat deposition through increased energy expenditure (fatty acid oxidation) and decreased food energy intake (reduced appetite). PNO and PLA improve blood and hepatic lipids in animal models and insulin sensitivity in vitro and reduce inflammation and modulate immune function in vitro and in animal models. The few studies which have examined effects of ETA indicate it has anti-inflammatory properties. Another NMIFA from PNO, sciadonic acid (all cis-5,-11,-14 20:3), has generally similar properties to PLA where these have been investigated. There is potential for human health benefits from PNO, its constituent NMIFA PLA and the PLA derivative ETA. However further studies are needed to explore the effects in humans.</p
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Omega-3 fatty acids and leukocyte-endothelium adhesion: novel anti-atherosclerotic actions
No full textEndothelial cells (ECs) play a role in the optimal function of blood vessels. When endothelial function becomes dysregulated, the risk of developing atherosclerosis increases. Specifically, upregulation of adhesion molecule expression on ECs promotes the movement of leukocytes, particularly monocytes, into the vessel wall. Here, monocytes differentiate into macrophages and may become foam cells, contributing to the initiation and progression of an atherosclerotic plaque. The ability of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to influence the expression of adhesion molecules by ECs and to modulate leukocyte-endothelial adhesion has been studied in cell culture using various types of ECs, in animal feeding studies and in human trials; the latter have tended to evaluate soluble forms of adhesion molecules that circulate in the bloodstream. These studies indicate that n-3 PUFAs (both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) can decrease the expression of key adhesion molecules, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, by ECs and that this results in decreased adhesive interactions between leukocytes and ECs. These findings suggest that n-3 PUFAs may lower leukocyte infiltration into the vascular wall, which could contribute to reduced atherosclerosis and lowered risk of cardiovascular disease
Eighteen-carbon trans fatty acids and inflammation in the context of atherosclerosis
No full textEndothelial dysfunction is a proinflammatory state characterized by chronic activation of the endothelium, which leads to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Intake of trans fatty acids (TFAs) is associated with an increased risk of CVD. This risk is usually associated with industrial TFAs (iTFAs) rather than ruminant TFAs (rTFAs); however it is not clear how specific TFA isomers differ in their biological activity and mechanisms of action with regard to inflammation. Here we review the literature on 18carbon TFAs, including the research associating their intake or levels with CVD and studies relating 18carbon TFA exposure to modulation of inflammatory processes. The evidence associating iTFAs with CVD risk factors is fairly consistent and studies in humans usually show a relation between iTFAs and higher levels of inflammatory markers. In contrast, studies in humans, animals and in vitro suggest that rTFAs have null or mildly beneficial effects in cardiovascular health, metabolic parameters and inflammatory markers, although the evidence is not always consistent. More studies are needed to better identify the beneficial and detrimental effects of the different TFAs, including those with 18 carbons
Differential inflammatory responses in cultured endothelial cells exposed to two conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) under a pro-inflammatory condition
No full textConjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have been shown to possess anti-atherosclerotic properties, which may be related to the downregulation of inflammatory pathways in different cell types, including endothelial cells (ECs). However, whether different CLA isomers have different actions is not entirely clear, with inconsistent reports to date. Furthermore, in cell culture studies, CLAs have often been used at fairly high concentrations. Whether lower concentrations of CLAs are able to affect EC responses is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two CLAs (cis-9, trans-11 (CLA9,11) and trans-10, cis-12 (CLA10,12)) on the inflammatory responses of ECs. ECs (EA.hy926 cells) were cultured under standard conditions and exposed to CLAs (1 to 50 μM) for 48 h. Then, the cells were cultured for a further 6 or 24 h with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α, 1 ng/mL) as an inflammatory stimulant. ECs remained viable after treatments with 1 and 10 μM of each CLA, but not after treatment with 50 μM of CLA10,12. CLAs were incorporated into ECs in a concentration-dependent manner. CLA10,12 increased the levels of ICAM-1, IL-6, and RANTES in the culture medium, while CLA9,11 had null effects. Both CLAs (1 μM) decreased the appearance of NFκB1 mRNA, but only CLA9,11 maintained this downregulation at 10 μM. CLA10,12 had no effect on THP-1 cell adhesion to ECs while significantly decreasing the percentage of ECs expressing ICAM-1 and also levels of ICAM-1 expression per cell when used at 10 µM. Although CLA9,11 did not have any effect on ICAM-1 cell surface expression, it reduced THP-1 cell adhesion to the EA.hy926 cell monolayer at both concentrations. In summary, CLA10,12 showed some pro-inflammatory effects, while CLA9,11 exhibited null or anti-inflammatory effects. The results suggest that each CLA has different effects in ECs under a pro-inflammatory condition, highlighting the need to evaluate the effects of CLA isomers independently.<br/
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Saga of the Whispering Hills - 025
No full textPhotograph - Cast members Dorothy Baker (Ella) and Dennis MacNeil (Ben). Saga of the Whispering Hills, presented by the Athabasca Players for the 75th Anniversary of Athabasca, Albert
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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