scholarly journals Placental transfer of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA)

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (s1) ◽  
pp. S5-S11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berthold Koletzko ◽  
Elvira Larqué ◽  
Hans Demmelmair

AbstractConsiderable evidence exists for marked beneficial effects of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) during pregnancy. The omega-3 LC-PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is incorporated in large amounts in fetal brain and other tissues during the second half of pregnancy, and several studies have provided evidence for a link between early DHA status of the mother and visual and cognitive development of her child after birth. Moreover, the supplementation of omega-3 LC-PUFA during pregnancy increases slightly infant size at birth, and significantly reduces early preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation by 31%. In our studies using stable isotope methodology in vivo, we demonstrated active and preferential materno-fetal transfer of DHA across the human placenta and found the expression of human placental fatty acid binding and transport proteins. From the correlation of DHA values with placental fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP 4), we conclude that this protein is of key importance in mediating DHA transport across the human placenta. Given the great importance of placental DHA transport for infant outcome, further studies are needed to fully appreciate the effects and optimal strategies of omega-3 fatty acid interventions in pregnancy, dose response relationships, and the potential differences between subgroups of subjects such as women with gestational diabetes or other gestational pathology. Such studies should contribute to optimize substrate intake during pregnancy and lactation that may improve pregnancy outcome as well as fetal growth and development.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ariful Islam ◽  
Takanori Kodama ◽  
Yui Yamamoto ◽  
Majid Ebrahimi ◽  
Hirofumi Miyazaki ◽  
...  

The placenta is a temporary vital organ for sustaining the development of the fetus throughout gestation. Although the fatty acid composition delivered to the fetus is largely determined by maternal circulating levels, the placenta preferentially transfers physiologically important long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), particularly omega-3 (n-3) FAs. The precise mechanisms governing these transfers were covered in a veil, but have started to be revealed gradually. Several evidences suggest fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs), placental specific membrane bound fatty acid binding proteins (pFABPpm) and fatty acid translocases (FAT/CD36) involved in LC-PUFAs uptake. Our studies have shown that the placental transfer of omega-3 FAs through the trophoblast cells is largely contributed by fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3). Recently there are considerable interests in the potential for dietary omega-3 FAs as a therapeutic intervention for fetal disorders. In fact, prenatal supply of omega-3 FAs is essential for brain and retinal development. Recent findings suggest a potential opportunity of omega-3 FA interventions to decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes in future generations. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanism of transportation of omega-3 FAs through the placenta and how omega-3 FAs deficiency/supplementation impact on fetal development.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2016, 2(1): 1-8


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1681
Author(s):  
Xiaojing Dong ◽  
Jianqiao Wang ◽  
Peng Ji ◽  
Longsheng Sun ◽  
Shuyan Miao ◽  
...  

The fatty acid compositions of the fish muscle and liver are substantially affected by rearing environment. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect have not been thoroughly described. In this study, we investigated the effects of different culture patterns, i.e., marine cage culture and freshwater pond culture, on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis in an aquaculturally important fish, the Japanese sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus). Fish were obtained from two commercial farms in the Guangdong province, one of which raises Japanese sea bass in freshwater, while the other cultures sea bass in marine cages. Fish were fed the same commercial diet. We found that omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) levels in the livers and muscles of the marine cage cultured fish were significantly higher than those in the livers and muscles of the freshwater pond cultured fish. Quantitative real-time PCRs indicated that fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) transcript abundance was significantly lower in the livers of the marine cage reared fish as compared to the freshwater pond reared fish, but that fatty acid elongase 5 (Elovl5) transcript abundance was significantly higher. Consistent with this, two of the 28 CpG loci in the FADS2 promoter region were heavily methylated in the marine cage cultured fish, but were only slightly methylated in freshwater pond cultured fish (n = 5 per group). Although the Elovl5 promoter was less methylated in the marine cage reared fish as compared to the freshwater pond reared fish, this difference was not significant. Thus, our results might indicate that Elovl5, not FADS2, plays an important role in the enhancing LC-PUFA synthesis in marine cage cultures.


2002 ◽  
Vol 363 (3) ◽  
pp. 809-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erland J.F. DEMANT ◽  
Gary V. RICHIERI ◽  
Alan M. KLEINFELD

The kinetics of the interaction of long-chain fatty acids (referred to as fatty acids) with albumin is critical to understanding the role of albumin in fatty acid transport. In this study we have determined the kinetics of fatty acid dissociation from BSA and the BSA-related fatty acid probe BSA-HCA (BSA labelled with 7-hydroxycoumarin-4-acetic acid) by stopped-flow methods. Fatty acid—albumin complexes of a range of natural fatty acid types and albumin molecules (donors) were mixed with three fatty acid-binding acceptor proteins. Dissociation of fatty acids from the donor was monitored by either the time course of donor fluorescence/absorbance or the time course of acceptor fluorescence. The results of these measurements indicate that fatty acid dissociation from BSA as well as BSA-HCA is well described by a single exponential function over the entire range of fatty acid/albumin molar ratios used in these measurements, from 0.5:1 to 6:1. The observed rate constants (kobs) for the dissociation of each fatty acid type reveal little or no dependence on the initial fatty acid/albumin ratio. However, dissociation rates were dependent upon the type of fatty acid. In the case of native BSA with an initial fatty acid/BSA molar ratio of 3:1, the order of kobs values was stearic acid (1.5s−1)<oleic acid<palmitic acid≅linoleic acid<arachidonic acid (8s−1) at 37°C. The corresponding values for BSA-HCA were about half the values for BSA. The results of this study show that the rate of fatty acid dissociation from native BSA is more than 10-fold faster than reported previously and that the off-rate constants for the five primary fatty acid-binding sites differ by less than a factor of 2. We conclude that for reported rates of fatty acid transport across cell membranes, dissociation of fatty acids from the fatty acid—BSA complexes used in the transport studies should not be rate-limiting.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 912
Author(s):  
Shedrach Benjamin Pewan ◽  
John Roger Otto ◽  
Robert Tumwesigye Kinobe ◽  
Oyelola Abdulwasiu Adegboye ◽  
Aduli Enoch Othniel Malau-Aduli

The aim of this research was to evaluate the nutritional enhancement of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LC-PUFA) composition of edible lamb Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle, heart, kidney, and liver in response to dietary supplementation of lot-fed lambs with or without omega-3 oil fortified pellets. The hypothesis tested was that fortifying feedlot pellets with omega-3 oil will enhance the human health beneficial n-3 LC-PUFA composition of edible lamb muscle tissue and organs. Seventy-five Tattykeel Australian White lambs exclusive to the MARGRA brand, with an average body weight of 30 kg at six months of age, were randomly assigned to the following three dietary treatments of 25 lambs each, and lot-fed as a cohort for 47 days in a completely randomized experimental design: (1) Control grain pellets without oil plus hay; (2) Omega-3 oil fortified grain pellets plus hay; and (3) Commercial whole grain pellets plus hay. All lambs had ad libitum access to the basal hay diet and water. Post-slaughter fatty acid composition of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle, liver, kidney, and heart were determined using thee gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry technique. Results indicated significant variations (p < 0.05) in fatty acid profiles between tissues and organs. Omega-3 oil fortified pellets significantly (p < 0.05) increased ≥C20 n-3 LC-PUFA (C20:5n-3 eicosapentaenoate, EPA + C22:5n3 docosapentaenoate, DPA + C22:6n3 docosahexanoate DHA); C18:3n-3 alpha-linolenate, ALA; C18:2 conjugated linoleic acid, CLA; total monounsaturated fatty acids, MUFA; polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA contents; and reduced the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in all lamb organs and tissues without impacting shelf-life. The findings demonstrate that the inclusion of omega-3 oil in feedlot diets of lambs enhances the human health beneficial omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles of edible muscle tissue and organs without compromising meat quality.


1996 ◽  
Vol 315 (1) ◽  
pp. 329-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle MARTIN ◽  
Kelly A. MECKLING-GILL

Here we show that in vitro supplementation of L1210 murine lymphoblastic leukaemia cells with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids results in considerable changes in the fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids. Incubations for 48 h with 30 μM eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, n-3; EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n-3; DHA) results primarily in substitution of long-chain n-6 fatty acids with long-chain n-3 fatty acids. This results in a decrease in the n-6/n-3 ratio from 6.9 in unsupplemented cultures to 1.2 or 1.6 for EPA and DHA supplemented cultures, respectively. Coincident with these changes in membrane fatty acid composition, we observed a 5-fold increase in the rate of adenosine (5 μM) uptake via the nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive nucleoside transporter in EPA- and DHA- supplemented L1210 cells, relative to unsupplemented cells. This seemed to result from a decrease in the Km for adenosine from 12.5 μM in unsupplemented cultures to 5.1 μM in DHA-treated cultures. Guanosine (50 μM) transport was similarly affected by DHA with a 3.5-fold increase in the initial rate of uptake. In contrast, pyrimidine transport, as measured by uptake of thymidine and cytidine, was not similarly affected, suggesting that substrate recognition had been altered by fatty acid supplementation. Studies using [3H]NBMPR showed that there was no effect of EPA or DHA on either the number of NBMPR-binding sites or the affinity of these sites for NBMPR. This observation suggests that the increases in adenosine and guanosine transport were not due to increases in the number of transporter sites but rather that EPA and DHA directly or indirectly modulate transporter function.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie M. Hixson ◽  
Bhanu Sharma ◽  
Martin J. Kainz ◽  
Alexander Wacker ◽  
Michael T. Arts

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are critical for the health of aquatic and terrestrial organisms; therefore, understanding the production, distribution, and abundance of these compounds is imperative. Although the dynamics of LC-PUFA production and distribution in aquatic environments has been well documented, a systematic and comprehensive comparison to LC-PUFA in terrestrial environments has not been rigorously investigated. Here we use a data synthesis approach to compare and contrast fatty acid profiles of 369 aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Habitat and trophic level were interacting factors that determined the proportion of individual omega-3 (n-3) or omega-6 (n-6) PUFA in aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Higher total n-3 content compared with n-6 PUFA and a strong prevalence of the n-3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) characterized aquatic versus terrestrial organisms. Conversely, terrestrial organisms had higher linoleic acid (LNA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) contents than aquatic organisms; however, the ratio of ALA:LNA was higher in aquatic organisms. The EPA + DHA content was higher in aquatic animals than terrestrial organisms, and increased from algae to invertebrates to vertebrates in the aquatic environment. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that fatty acid composition was highly dependent on the interaction between habitat and trophic level. We conclude that freshwater ecosystems provide an essential service through the production of n-3 LC-PUFA that are required to maintain the health of terrestrial organisms including humans.


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