Comparison of the effects of 3 kinds of oils rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on glycolipid metabolism and lipoprotein subfractions

Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(ω-3 PUFAs)can be classifi ed into animal-and plant-derivedω-3 PUFAs.Patients with type 2 diabetes(T2DM)are frequently accompanied by dyslipidemia,which is closely related to the high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C)subfractions change.This study aimed to determine the effects of different sourcesω-3 PUFAs on glucolipid metabolism and lipoprotein subfractions in T2DM with dyslipidemia.Ninety T2DM patients with dyslipidemia were randomly assigned to take 3 g/day fi sh oil(FO,containing eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)),3 g/day perilla oil(PO,containingα-linolenic acid(ALA)),or 3 g/day blend oil(BO,containing EPA,DHA and ALA)for 3 months.90 patients completed the intervention.There was a significant reduction of glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)in all the groups.The triglycerides(TG)in the FO group were signifi cantly different with a group×time interaction(P=0.043),which was higher compared with the other two groups.The serum small HDL-C subfractions in the PO group was higher and the serum large HDL-C subfractions in the PO group was lower than those in the BO and FO groups.Plant-derivedω-3 PUFAs are more effective at controlling blood glucose than animal-derivedω-3 PUFAs.However,animal-derivedω-3 PUFAs have a signifi cant lowering effect on TG compared with plant-derivedω-3 PUFAs.Particularly,large HDL-C subfractions after animal-derivedω-3 PUFAs intake were higher than plant-derivedω-3 PUFAs intake;while small HDL-C subfractions were lower.Both the animal-and plant-derivedω-3 PUFAs have practical value in improving glucose and lipids metabolism in T2DM patients with dyslipidemia.

Novel Lipase from Golden Pompano(Trachinotus ovatus)Viscera:Purification,Characterization,and Application in the Concentrating of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Lipases have been widely applied in a variety of industrial fields,such as food,pharmaceuticals,biofuels,and biotechnology.Recent years have witnessed a great interest in modifying lipids for the production of triacylglycerols enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFAs).Here,a novel salt-tolerant,organic solvent-stable,and bile salt-activated lipase was purified from golden pompano(Trachinotus ovatus)viscera,which was named as golden pompano lipase(GPL).GPL had a specific activity of 57.2U mg^(-1)with an estimated molecular weight of 14 k Da,exhibited optimal activity at 40℃a nd pH 8.0,and showed K_(m)and V_(max)of 40.16μmol L^(-1)and 769.23μmol L^(-1)min^(-1),respectively.GPL activity was enhanced by Mn^(2+)and sodium deoxycholate.It was active in organic solvents,including methanol,ethanol,chloroform,and hexane.GPL also showed a good salinity tolerance of up to 1 mol L^(-1).n-3PUFA enrichment in the glyceride fraction of golden pompano oil was performed by GPL-catalyzed hydrolysis and yielded a total PUFA concentration of 56.99%.EPA,DHA,and DPA were enriched by 10.4-,3.2-,and 1.8-fold of their initial levels,respectively.This study recognized the industrial applicability of GPL to prepare enriched C_(20-22)n-3 PUFA.

Different n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios affect postprandial metabolism in normal and hypertriglyceridemic rats

Postprandial metabolism plays major roles in many pathological conditions.The n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA)ratio is closely related to various physiological disorders.This study aimed to investigate the effects of high fat meals with different n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios on postprandial metabolism in normal control(NC)and hypertriglyceridemia(HTG)rats.The postprandial response of triglyceride(TG)in HTG groups was higher than that in NC groups after different n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio meals.The HTG groups showed higher postprandial total cholesterol(TC)responses than NC groups after 1:1 and 20:1 ratio meals.The 5:1 n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio elicited lower postprandial responses of tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α)than 1:1 and 10:1 ratios in HTG groups.The postprandial malondialdehyde(MDA)response was lower after a 5:1 n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio meal than 1:1 and 20:1 ratio meals in HTG groups.The 1:1 ratio resulted in a lower postprandial reactive oxygen species(ROS)level than 5:1 and 10:1 n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios in NC groups.The results showed that a low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio improved postprandial dysmetabolism induced by a high fat meal in NC and HTG rats.A high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio increased the difference in postprandial metabolism between NC and HTG rats.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids promote liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats

AIM:To evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid(ω-3 PUFA) administration on liver regeneration after 90% partial hepatectomy(PH) in rats.METHODS:ω-3 PUFAs were intravenously injected in the ω-3 PUFA group before PH surgery.PH,sparing only the caudate lobe,was performed in both the control and the ω-3 PUFA group.Survival rates,liver weight/body weight ratios,liver weights,HE staining,transmission electron microscope imaging,nuclearassociated antigen Ki-67,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and signal transduction were evaluated to analyze liver regeneration.RESULTS:All rats in the control group died within 30 h after hepatectomy.Survival rates in the ω-3 PUFA group were 20/20 at 30 h and 4/20 1 wk after PH.Liver weight/body weight ratios and liver weights increased significantly in the ω-3 PUFA group.The structure of sinusoidal endothelial cells and space of Disse was greatly restored in the ω-3 PUFA group compared to the control group after PH.In the ω-3 PUFA group,interleukin(IL)-4 and IL-10 levels were significantly increased whereas IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-levels were dramatically decreased.In addition,activation of protein kinase B(Akt) and of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway were identified at an earlier time after PH in the ω-3 PUFA group.CONCLUSION:Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may prevent acute liver failure and promote liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats.

Role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids,citrus pectin,and milk-derived exosomes on intestinal barrier integrity and immunity in animals

The gastrointestinal tract of livestock and poultry is prone to challenge by feedborne antigens,pathogens,and other stress factors in the farm environment.Excessive physiological inflammation and oxidative stress that arises firstly disrupts the intestinal epithelial barrier followed by other components of the gastrointestinal tract.In the present review,the interrelationship between intestinal barrier inflammation and oxidative stress that contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease was described.Further,the role of naturally existing immunomodulatory nutrients such as the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids,citrus pectin,and milk-derived exosomes in preventing intestinal barrier inflammation was discussed.Based on the existing evidence,the possible molecular mechanism of these bioactive nutrients in the intestinal barrier was outlined for application in animal diets.

The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease. Allergies are intensely related to bronchial asthma and to other respiratory diseases such as chronic sinusitis, middle ear infections, and nasal polyps. Treatment can vary from inhalers to oral medications to drugs delivered in a nebulizer or breathing machine. Besides, dietary involvement was a significant tool to reduce the severity of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma. Randomly assigned, double blind, and placebo controlled 290 adults with mild to moderately persistent bronchial asthma concluded in this study, were subjected to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn either singly or in combination. Subjective symptom improvement, pulmonary function, and biochemical tests were carried out at the beginning of the study and at the end of each therapeutic phase. The study findings showed that nearly half of the cases were in age between 18 years to 40 years followed by 29.6 of the cases that fall in age range between 40 years and 60 years. It was clear that all the four supplements (ogema-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn, and combination) contributed more than placebo in reducing the severity of bronchial asthma. However, omega 3 fatty acids and combined supplement significantly contributed in symptomatic improvement (p < 0.05). There was a significant improvement of pulmonary function and sputum inflammatory markers with diet supplementation (p < 0.05). So, the subjects with mild and moderately persistent bronchial asthma may get benefit from their dietary supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids, Zinc and vitamin C. It is evident from this study that omega 3 fatty acids and combined supplementation significantly improved the severity of bronchial asthma.

Antidiabetic Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: From Mechanism to Therapeutic Possibilities

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance caused by dysfunction of pancreatic β cells. Over the past few decades, epidemiological studies have suggested that dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid decrease the risk of metabolic diseases including DM. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in treating DM have been partly revealed. In this review, the authors describe the antidiabetic effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and also discuss their possibilities as therapeutics for DM in the light of recent findings.

Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Marine n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Human Health and Diseases

The pharmaceutical effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(n-3 PUFAs) as dietary nutrients on human health and diseases have gained much attention and are investigated for decades. Docosahexaenoic acid(DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid(DPA) are the three major n-3 PUFAs enriched in marine organisms, such as fish, shrimp, algae, and so on. It has been well known that n-3 PUFAs, especially DHA and EPA, are beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that n-3 PUFAs might cure inflammatory diseases through several mechanisms, such as plasma membrane remodeling of lymphocytes, down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, and alternating adhesion molecule expressions. Several molecular targets of n-3 PUFAs on immune-regulation have also been identified, such as GPR120(FFA4), protein kinase C(PKC), and PPAR-γ. However, it remains inconclusive if dietary n-3 PUFAs function the same both in vitro and in vivo based on cohort studies. This review will focus on the molecular targets and mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of n-3 PUFAs on human health and diseases, such as obesity, tumor, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.

Effects of dietary ratio of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on immunoglobulins, cytokines, fatty acid composition, and performance of lactating sows and suckling piglets

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary ratios of n-6：n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids （PUFA） on the performance of lactating sows and their piglets. Thirty pregnant Landrace sows were assigned to one of three treatments from d 108 of gestation until weaning （26-29 d） and were fed diets containing different ratios of n-6：n-3 PUFA including 3：1,9：1 and 13：1. The effects on sow and litter production traits were examined together with an assessment of sow body condition. No differences were detected among the treatments for the daily feed intake of sows or changes in sow weight and back-fat levels during lactation （P 〉 0.05）. Litter size at d 14 and d 21 were tended to increase in 3：1 treatment compared with 9：1 and 13：1 treatments （P 〈 0.10）. Litter weight gain （1.77 kg/d） from d 0 to d 14 was tended to increase in 9：1 groups compared with the other two treatments （P 〈 0.10）. A significant difference was observed for the content of a -linolenic acid, total n-3 PUFA, and the ratio of n-6：n-3 PUFA in the colostrum, milk, and piglets plasma （P 〈 0.01）. The effects of different ratios of n-6：n-3 PUFA in sow diets on colostrum, milk and piglet plasma immunoglobulin concentrations are studied. No difference was observed among treatments in the concentrations of IgM, and IgA in colostrum （P 〉 0.05）. A great significant difference for IgG concentration was observed among 3 group in colostrum. A great significant difference for IgA, and IgM （P〈 0.01） concentrations in piglet plasma at d14 and a significant difference for IgG（P 〈 0.05） was observed at d14. Furthermore, at d 21 of lactation, piglet plasma IgG and IgA concentration were greater in 3：1 compared with 13：1 group （P 〈 0.01）. In summary, the current study demonstrated that altering the ratio of n-6：n-3 PUFA in lactating sow diet had an effect on the immune component including immunoglobulin and cytokines, and it tended to increase the litter average daily gain and improve the immune status of piglets when dietary ratio of n-6：n-3 PUFA was 9：1.

Recent advances in liver preconditioning: Thyroid hormone, n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron

Liver preconditioning (PC), defined as an enhanced tolerance to injuring stimuli induced by previous specific maneuvers triggering beneficial functional and molecular changes, is of crucial importance in human liver transplantation and major hepatic resection. For these reasons, numerous PC strategies have been evaluated in experimental models of ischemia-reperfusion liver injury, which have not been transferred to clinical application due to side effects, toxicity and difficulties in implementation, with the exception of the controversial ischemic PC. In recent years, our group has undertaken the assessment of alternate experimental liver PC protocols that might have application in the clinical setting. These include thyroid hormone (T3), n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA), or iron, which suppressed liver damage due to the 1 h ischemia-20 h reperfusion protocol. T3, n-3 LCPUFA and iron are hormetic agents that trigger biologically beneficial effects in the low-dose range, whose multifactorial mechanisms of action are discussed in the work.

Effects of the Ratio of n-6∶n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Maternal Diet on Immunoglobulins,Fatty Acid Composition,and Performance of Lactating Sows and Suckling Piglets under Conditions of Low Maternal Energy Intake

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different ratios of n-6 ∶ n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids （PUFA） in sow diets on the performance of lactating sows and their piglets at low digestible energy intakes. Twenty-one pregnant Landrace sows were assigned to one of three diets from day 108 of gestation until weaning （26 to 29 d） ,containing n-6∶n-3 PUFA ratios of 3 ∶1,8 ∶1 and 11 ∶1. The effects on sow and litter production traits and on sow body condition were examined. There were no differences among treatments in daily feed intakes or in changes in sow weight and back-fat levels during lactation. Litter size,litter weight at birth and weaning and litter average daily weight gain were also unaffected by treatment. As expected, large differences were observed in n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in the colostrum and plasma of sows and piglets （P 〈 0. 01） . The ratio of n6 ∶ n-3 PUFA the diet was positively correlated with those in colostrum,sow plasma and piglet plasma （R 2= 0. 55,0. 80 and 0. 80,respectively） . Sow plasma insulin and IGF-I levels at weaning were unaffected by the treatments. Plasma leptin （P 〈 0. 05） concentrations were increased in sows fed the diet with a n-6∶n-3 ratio of 8 ∶ 1. Immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum were not altered by dietary treatment. Plasma IgG concentrations at d 14 were highest in piglets from sows fed the 8 ∶ 1 ratio of n-6∶n-3. Furthermore,this group had the highest IgA concentrations at day 21 of lactation compared with the other two groups （P 〈 0. 05） . In summary,our study demonstrated that at low digestible energy levels,altering the ratio of n-6 ∶ n-3 PUFA in the diets for lactating sows affected immune components and the fatty acid composition of lactating sows and their piglets. Further studies are needed to examine whether higher levels of fat supplementation than those used in the present study （1. 5%） can successfully enhance performance.

The Efficacy of the Consumption of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for the Maintenance of Remission in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the actual consuming n-3 PUFA for remission-maintenance in IBD patients. A questionnaire on the dietary habits of patients one month before hospitalization (Q1) was completed by 24 patients with IBD (10 ulcerative colitis (UC) subjects and 14 Crohn’s disease (CD) subjects) treated at our hospital. We educated the study subjects about an n-3 PUFA diet, and a follow-up survey (Q2) was conducted 6 to 12 months after discharge. Disease activity was evaluated using the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) score and/or the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score for CD and the partial UCDAI score without endoscopic evaluation for UC. Q1 showed that the average n-3 and n-6 PUFA intakes were 1673 ± 1651 mg and 9146 ± 5217 mg, respectively, and the average n-3/n-6 ratio was 0.27 ± 0.31. In Q2, the intake of n-3 PUFA was significantly higher (3671 ± 1684 mg, p < 0.001), whereas the n-6 PUFA intake decreased significantly (5217 ± 1973 mg, p < 0.001) compared to those in Q1. As a consequence, the dietary n-3/ n-6 ratio was significantly increased (0.87 ± 0.60, p < 0.001). Maintenance of the remission rate was significantly higher in IBD patients who complied with the n-3 diet, and these patients maintained a dietary n-3/n-6 ratio of 0.432 or higher (17 of 23 cases;70.8%, p < 0.03) compared to that observed for IBD patients who did not comply with the diet. These results emphasize the importance of adjusting dietary PUFA and suggest that the n-3 diet may be effective in maintaining the remission of IBD.

The Global Research Progress of Enzymatic Processing of Oils with Omega 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

This paper has reviewed that Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as an essential fatty acids (EFAs), mainly come from fish oil of marine products, has positive effects on treatment and/or prevention of several diseases. In this review, the recent developments by 2019 in the field of enzymatic modification of oils rich in omega 3 PUFAs have summarized. Several different products, such as structured lipids with a variety of FA compositions, nutritional aspects, omega 3 PUFA concentrates and phospholipids,have discussed from the point of process technology as well as possible applications. Enhancing omega 3 PUFA content in diet involves a number of strategies aiming to modify the content of such FAs in fats and oils. Due to the mild reaction conditions used, especially the lipase specificity, the position as well as content of omega 3 PUFAs in lipid molecules being of importance from the point of bioavailability, enzymatic processing of omega 3 PUFA oil is safe, efficient and preferred over chemical treatments.

Association of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids with Sarcopenia in Liver Cirrhosis Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background and Aims:Sarcopenia is associated with the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Given their diverse physiological activities,we hypothesized that plasma fatty acids might influence the progression of sarcopenia.This study aimed to clarify the association between fatty acids and sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients with HCC.Methods:In this singlecenter retrospective study,we registered 516 cases and analyzed 414 cases of liver cirrhosis and HCC.The skeletal muscle mass index was measured using a transverse computed tomography scan image at the third lumbar vertebra.The cutoff value for sarcopenia followed the criteria set by the Japan Society of Hepatology.Fatty acid concentrations were measured by gas chromatography.Results:Fatty acid levels,particularly omega-3(n-3)polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA),were lower in patients with poor liver function(Child-Pugh grade B/C)and were negatively correlated with the albumin-bilirubin score(p<0.0001).The prognosis of HCC patients with low PUFA levels was significantly worse.Among the different fatty acid fractions,only n-3 PUFAs significantly correlated with skeletal muscle mass index(p=0.0026).In the multivariate analysis,the n-3 PUFA level was an independent variable associated with sarcopenia(p=0.0006).Conclusions:A low level of n-3 PUFAs was associated with sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC.

Omega-3多不饱和脂肪酸在少弱精子症治疗中的研究进展

少弱精子症是男性不育常见的类型之一,但目前仍缺乏有效治疗手段。越来越多的研究显示,omega-3多不饱和脂肪酸(ω-3 PUFA)对少弱精子症具有潜在的治疗价值。本文主要对ω-3 PUFA在影响少弱精子症脂肪酸代谢与组成、炎症反应、氧化应激等方面的相关研究进行综述,以期为少弱精子症的治疗提供新的思路。

Dietary saturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid oppositely affect hepatic NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome through regulating nuclear factor-kappa B activation

AIM: To investigate the effect of different dietary fatty acids on hepatic inflammasome activation.METHODS: Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were fed either a high-fat diet or polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-enriched diet. Primary hepatocytes were treated with either saturated fatty acids (SFAs) or PUFAs as well as combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-&#x003b3; and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-&#x003ba;B) was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot. The activity of Caspase-1 and interleukine-1&#x003b2; production were measured.RESULTS: High-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis was sufficient to induce and activate hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome. SFA palmitic acid (PA) directly activated NLRP3 inflammasome and increased sensitization to LPS-induced inflammasome activation in hepatocytes. In contrast, PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) had the potential to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome expression in hepatocytes and partly abolished LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, a high-fat diet increased but PUFA-enriched diet decreased sensitization to LPS-induced hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vivo. Moreover, PA increased but DHA decreased phosphorylated NF-&#x003ba;B p65 protein expression in hepatocytes.CONCLUSION: Hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome activation played an important role in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dietary SFAs and PUFAs oppositely regulated the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome through direct activation or inhibition of NF-&#x003ba;B.

Resolvins and omega three polyunsaturated fatty acids: Clinical implications in inflammatory diseases and cancer

Inflammation is a central process in several disorders and contributes to cancer progression. Inflammation involves a complex cascade of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signaling events with protein and lipid mediators. Recent advances in lipid detection have revealed the importance of lipid mediators in inflammation. Omega three polyunsaturated fatty acids(ω-3 PUFA) are found naturally in fish oil and have been extensively studied in multiple inflammatory diseases with improved outcomes. Resolvins are thought to be the active metabolites of ω-3 PUFA, and are responsible for facilitating the resolving phase of acute inflammation. Clinically, resolvins have been associated with resolution of acute kidney injury and acute lung injury, micro and macro vascular response to injury, and inhibition of microglia-activated inflammation in neurodegenerative disorders. In addition to inflammatory diseases, ω-3 PUFA and resolvins appear to modulate cancer progression. ω-3 PUFA intake has been associated with reduced inflammation in colorectal cancer, and favorable phenotype in breast cancer. Resolvins offer promising therapeutic potential as they may modulate inflammation with minimal side-effects, in contrast to currently available anti-inflammatory medications. This review describes the roles of ω-3 PUFA and resolvins in the inflammatory cascade, various inflammatory diseases, and specific cancers. Additionally, it will discuss the clinical therapeutic potential of resolvins astargets in inflammatory diseases and cancers.

Omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） has been recognized as a major health burden. It is the most important cause of chronic liver disease and a major in- dependent cardiovascular risk factor. Lacking a definite treatment for NAFLD, a specific diet and an increase in physical activity represent the most commonly used therapeutic approaches. In this review, major literature data about the use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty ac- ids （n-3 PUFAs） as a potential treatment of NAFLD have been described, n-3 PUFAs, besides having a beneficial impact on most of the cardio-metabolic risk factors （hy- pertension, hyperlipidemia, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis） by regulating gene transcription factors [i.e., peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor （PPAR） cz, PPARy, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-i, carbohydrate responsive element-binding protein], im- pacts both lipid metabolism and on insulin sensitivity. In addition to an enhancement of hepatic beta oxidation and a decrease of the endogenous lipid production, n-3 PUFAs are able to determine a significant reduction of the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules （tumor necrosis factor-~ and interleukin-6） and of oxygen reac- tive species. Further strengthening the results of the in vitro studies, both animal models and human interven- tion trials, showed a beneficial effect of n-3 PUFAs on the severity of NAFLD as expressed by laboratory pa- rameters and imaging measurements. Despite available results provided encouraging data about the efficacy of n-3 PUFAs as a treatment of NAFLD in humans, well- designed randomized controlled trials of adequate size and duration, with histological endpoints, are needed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of PUFA, as well as other therapies, for the treatment of NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients. It is worthwhile to consider that n-3 PUFAs cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be derived from exogenous sources （fish oil, flaxseeds, olive oil） which are typical foods of the Mediterranean diet, known for its beneficial effects in preventing obesity, diabetes and, in turn, cardiovascular events. According to these data, it is important to consider that most of the beneficial effects of n-3 PUFAs can also be obtained by an equilibrate nutrition program.

孟德尔随机化探究Omega-3脂肪酸与乳腺癌发病风险的因果关系

目的利用孟德尔随机化方法分析Omega-3脂肪酸与乳腺癌发病风险的因果关联。方法对Omega-3脂肪酸与乳腺癌全基因组关联研究(GWASs)数据进行分析,筛选出与Omega-3脂肪酸相关的遗传位点作为工具变量(IVs)。使用逆方差加权(IVW)、MR-Egger、加权中位数、简单模式和加权模式等孟德尔随机化分析方法对Omega-3脂肪酸和乳腺癌发病风险间的因果关系进行评估。结果共筛选出47个与Omega-3脂肪酸强相关的SNPs作为工具变量,IVW等分析方法均显示Omega-3脂肪酸与乳腺癌的发病风险间不存在因果关联(P>0.05)。MR-Egger回归分析等方法均未检测到明显的基因水平多效性(P=0.319),表明分析结果具有较高的敏感性和稳健性。结论Omega-3脂肪酸与乳腺癌发病风险之间无因果关联。

A randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome

AIM:To evaluate the role of dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome.METHODS:A prospective,interventional,placebo controlled,double blind randomized trial was done at two referral eye centers.Two hundred and sixty-four eyes of patients with dry eye were randomized to receive one capsule(500mg)two times a day containing 325mg EPA and 175mg DHA for 3 months(omega-3 group).The omega-3 group was compared to a group of patients(n=254)who received a placebo(placebo group).There were 4 patient visits(at baseline,1 month,2 months and3 months).On each visit,recording of corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA),slit lamp examination and questionnaire based symptom evaluation and scoring was done.A symptomatic score of 0-6 was mild,6.1-12moderate and 12.1-18 severe dry eye.Response to intervention was monitored by routine tear function tests like Schirmer I test,tear film break-up time(TBUT),Rose Bengal staining and most notably,conjunctival impression cytology.RESULTS:Sixty-five percent of patients in the omega-3group and 33%of patients in placebo group had significant improvement in symptoms at 3 months(P=0.005).There was a significant change in both Schirmer’s test value and TBUT values in the omega-3group(P【0.001),both comparisons.However,there was a larger drift in TBUT values in omega-3 than the placebo group,in comparison to Schirmer’s test values.The mean TBUT score was 2.54±2.34 in the omega-3group and 0.13±0.16 in placebo group,respectively.The mean reduction in symptom score in omega-3 group was 2.02±0.96 as compared to 0.48±0.22 in placebogroup(P【0.001).Despite a slight increase mean score,the Schirmer scores did not correlate well with symptomatic improvement.CONCLUSION:Omega-3 fatty acids have a definite role for dry eye syndrome.The benefit seems to be more marked in conditions such as blepharitis and meibomian gland disease.The role of omega fatty acids in tear production and secretion needs further evaluation.