The protein, essential amino acid, and fatty acid composition of European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), surmullet (Mullus surmuletus), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), and deep water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) from the central Mediterranean Sea were investigated. All the species showed an essential amino acid content of about 50% of total amino acids, while the protein and total fatty acids content varied from 19.9 to 24.8% and from 1.4 to 5.1%, respectively. The fatty acid profile mainly followed the order SFA (39.1-52.6%) > PUFA (21.0-39.3%) > MUFA (15.6-24.3%). Palmitic and stearic acids were predominant among saturated fatty acids (38-52% and 21-25%, respectively), while palmitoleic and oleic acids were the most represented of the total monounsaturated acids (10-21% and 55-68%, respectively). All the species, as expected, showed a more significant proportion of n-3 PUFA (EPA + DHA) of about 81-93% of the total PUFA, with the highest values was found in European pilchard. Also, several fat quality index values, such as n-6/n-3 ratio, PUFA/SFA, the index of atherogenicity (IA), the index of thrombogenicity (IT), the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (HH), and fish lipid quality/flesh lipid quality (FLQ) were calculated to assess the nutritional quality. All the obtained results, along with the fat quality indexes, indicated the excellent nutritional values of the selected species.

Exposure to arsenic (As) is a public health problem associated with cancer (skin and colon) and it has been reported that epigenetic changes may be a potential mechanism of As carcinogenesis. It is pertinent to evaluate this process in genes that have been associated with cancer, such as ADAMTS9 and C18ORF8. Gestation and delivery data were obtained from the POSGRAD study. Exposure to As was measured in urine during pregnancy. Gene methylation was performed by sodium bisulfite sequencing; 26 CpG sites for the C18ORF8 gene and 21 for ADAMTS9 were analyzed. These sites are located on the CpG islands near the start of transcription. Sociodemographic characteristics were obtained by a questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed using multiple linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Newborns with an As exposure above 49.4 μg g-1 showed a decrease of 0.21% on the methylation rate in the sites CpG15, CpG19, and CpG21 of the C18ORF8 gene (adjusted ß = -0.21, p-value = 0.02). No statistically significant association was found between prenatal exposure to As and methylation of the ADAMTS9 gene. Prenatal exposure to As was associated with decreased DNA methylation at the CpG15, CpG19, and CpG21 sites of the C18ORF8 gene. These sites can provide information to elucidate epigenetic mechanisms associated with prenatal exposure to As and cancer.

In this study, the whey protein isolate-high-methoxyl pectin (WPI-HMP) complex prepared by electrostatic interaction was utilized as an emulsifier in the preparation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) algal oils in order to improve their physicochemical properties and oxidation stability. The results showed that the emulsions stabilized using the WPI-HMP complex across varying oil-phase volume fractions (30-70%) exhibited consistent particle size and enhanced stability compared to emulsions stabilized solely using WPI or HMP at different ionic concentrations and heating temperatures. Furthermore, DHA algal oil emulsions stabilized using the WPI-HMP complex also showed superior storage stability, as they exhibited no discernible emulsification or oil droplet overflow and the particle size variation remained relatively minor throughout the storage at 25 °C for 30 days. The accelerated oxidation of the emulsions was assessed by measuring the rate of DHA loss, lipid hydroperoxide levels, and malondialdehyde levels. Emulsions stabilized using the WPI-HMP complex exhibited a lower rate of DHA loss and reduced levels of lipid hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde. This indicated that WPI-HMP-stabilized Pickering emulsions exhibit a greater rate of DHA retention. The excellent stability of these emulsions could prove valuable in food processing for DHA nutritional enhancement.

UNASSIGNED: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is related to increased offspring fat accrual, and increased fat mass (FM) is related to obesity development. Prenatal DHA supplementation has been linked to lower levels of offspring FM; however, conflicting data exist.
UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to determine if there is a protective effect of prenatal DHA supplementation on offspring fat accrual and adipose tissue deposition at 24 mo in offspring born to females who gain excessive weight compared with nonexcessive weight during pregnancy. We also explored if the effect of DHA dose on FM differed by offspring sex.
UNASSIGNED: Infants born to females who participated in the Assessment of DHA on Reducing Early Preterm Birth randomized controlled trial (ADORE) were recruited. In ADORE, females were randomly assigned to either a high or low prenatal DHA supplement. Offspring body composition and adipose tissue distribution were measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). GWG was categorized as excessive or not excessive based on clinical guidelines.
UNASSIGNED: For total FM, there was a significant main effect for the DHA dose (P = 0.03); however, the dose by GWG status was nonsignificant (P = 0.44). Therefore, a higher prenatal DHA dose was related to greater offspring FM (622.9 g greater) and unrelated to GWG status. When investigating a DHA dose by sex effect, a significant main effect for DHA dose (P = 0.01) was detected for central FM. However, no interaction was detected (P = 0.98), meaning that both boys and girls had greater central FM if their mother was assigned to the higher DHA dose.
UNASSIGNED: Greater prenatal DHA supplementation was associated with greater offspring FM and adipose tissue distribution at 24 mo. It will be important to understand if these effects persist into childhood.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03310983.

Psoriasis is a chronic systemic disease with a multifaceted pathomechanism and immunological basis, with the presence of inflammatory skin lesions and joint ailments. Diseases accompanying psoriasis include metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. It has been suggested that inflammation is involved in the development of each of these conditions. The main objective of this study was to analyse the fatty acid profile, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, in the erythrocyte membranes of patients suffering from psoriasis. A total of 58 adult patients of the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, suffering from psoriasis, were qualified for this study. The patients had undergone an interview and physical examination, during which the severity of psoriasis was assessed. All patients had their weight and height measured to assess their body mass index (BMI). After 3 months of treatment, biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, total cholesterol) and inflammatory markers (CRP) in the blood were assessed. In addition, the isolation of fatty acids (PUFAs, SFAs, MUFAs) from erythrocyte membranes and the qualitative and quantitative analysis of their profile using a gas chromatograph were carried out. In patients with severe psoriasis requiring systemic treatment, an altered profile of fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes was found, including a significantly lower concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3), which have an anti-inflammatory effect; a significantly higher concentration of saturated fatty acids; and a decreased concentration of oleic acid (omega-9), compared to the results obtained in patients with less severe psoriasis receiving topical treatment. In patients with psoriasis and BMI ≥ 25, significantly higher concentrations of AST and ALT in the blood and significantly higher concentrations of pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid in erythrocyte membranes were found. Elevated concentrations of saturated (R = 0.31) and monounsaturated fatty acids (R = 0.29) may correlate with a greater severity of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are two omega-3 fatty acids that can be synthesized out of their precursor alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). FADS and ELOVL genes encode the desaturase and elongase enzymes required for EPA and DHA synthesis from ALA; however, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FADS and ELOVL genes could modify the levels of EPA and DHA synthesized from ALA although there is no consensus in this area. This review aims to investigate EPA and DHA circulating levels in human blood and their association with FADS or ELOVL.
METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were used to identify research articles. They were subsequently reviewed by two independent investigators.
RESULTS: Initially, 353 papers were identified. After removing duplicates and articles not meeting inclusion criteria, 98 full text papers were screened. Finally, this review included 40 studies investigating FADS and/or ELOVL polymorphisms. A total of 47 different SNPs in FADS genes were reported. FADS1 rs174537, rs174547, rs174556 and rs174561 were the most studied SNPs, with minor allele carriers having lower levels of EPA and DHA. SNPs in the FADS genes were in high linkage disequilibrium. SNPs in FADS were correlated with levels of EPA and DHA. No conclusion could be drawn with the ELOVL polymorphisms since the number of studies was too low.
CONCLUSIONS: Specific SNPs in FADS gene, such as rs174537, have strong associations with circulating levels of EPA and DHA. Continued investigation regarding the impact of genetic variants related to EPA and DHA synthesis is warranted.

The composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the cell membrane plays a crucial role in cell signaling and function. Physical activity can induce shifts in PUFA metabolism, potentially altering their membrane composition. Given the multifaceted regulatory and structural roles of PUFA, training-related fluctuations in PUFA concentrations may impact health and athletic performance in both elite and non-elite athletes, highlighting the critical role of these fatty acids\' nutritional intake. The ω-3 index (O3I), a biomarker reflecting the proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cell membranes, is considered a marker of cardiovascular risk, gaining increasing interest in sports medicine. Dietary interventions aimed at maintaining an optimal O3I may offer several benefits for elite and non-elite athletes, including cardiovascular health performance optimization, recovery, and injury prevention. Here, we discuss emerging evidence on the application of O3I in sports and physical exercise, highlighting its promising role as a biomarker in a wide range of sports practices.

A randomized, double-blinded trial with 65 subjects was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetics between PhytoMarineCelle (PM) that consists of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) plus a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS), and a standard EPA + DHA ethyl ester (SEE) that does not contain SEDDS. PM showed 1.6-fold greater plasma area under the curve (AUC) than SEE at 300 mg, although no significant difference was observed. PM showed a 3.1 and 3.2-fold (p < 0.05) greater plasma AUC than SEE at 500 mg and 1000 mg respectively. The concentration max (Cmax) of EPA + DHA did not change between PM and SEE at 300 mg. Cmax of PM was twofold greater than SEE at 500 mg and 1000 mg respectively. The Cmax of EPA + DHA achieved significant difference (p < 0.05) only with the 500 mg dose. The PM formulation increased the bioavailability of EPA + DHA by threefold compared to SEE at 500 and 1000 mg.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2024.1372522.].

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Multiple evidence suggests that there is an association between excess fat consumption and the risk of CRC. The long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential for human health, and both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that these fatty acids can prevent CRC development through various molecular mechanisms. These include the modulation of arachidonic acid (AA) derived prostaglandin synthesis, alteration of growth signaling pathways, arrest of the cell cycle, induction of cell apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis and modulation of inflammatory response. Human clinical studies found that LC n-3 PUFA combined with chemotherapeutic agents can improve the efficacy of treatment and reduce the dosage of chemotherapy and associated side effects. In this review, we discuss comprehensively the anti-cancer effects of LC n-3 PUFA on CRC, with a main focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms.