Dietary supplementation with marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) can have beneficial effects on a number of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We compared the effects of two n-3 PUFA rich food supplements (freeze-dried Odontella aurita and fish oil) on risk factors for CVD. Male rats were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each and fed with the following diets: control group (C) received a standard diet containing 7 % lipids; second group (HF high fat) was fed with a high-fat diet containing 40 % lipids; third group (HFFO high fat+fish oil) was fed with the high-fat diet supplemented with 0.5 % fish oil; and fourth group (HFOA high fat+O. aurita) received the high-fat diet supplemented with 12 % of freeze-dried O. aurita. After 8 weeks rats fed with the high-fat diet supplemented with O. aurita displayed a significantly lower bodyweight than those in the other groups. Both the microalga and the fish oil significantly reduced insulinemia and serum lipid levels. O. aurita was more effective than the fish oil in reducing hepatic triacyglycerol levels and in preventing high-fat diet-induced steatosis. O. aurita and fish oil also reduced platelet aggregation and oxidative status induced by high fat intake. After an OA supplementation, the adipocytes in the HFOA group were smaller than those in the HF group. Freeze-dried O. aurita showed similar or even greater biological effects than the fish oil. This could be explained by a potential effect of the n-3 PUFA but also other bioactive compounds of the microalgae.

BackgroundGrape and blueberry extracts are known to protect against age-related cognitive decline. However, beneficial effects achieved by mixing grape and blueberry extracts have yet to be evaluated in dogs, or their bioavailability assessed. Of concern to us were cases of acute renal failure in dogs, after their ingestion of grapes or raisins. The European Pet Food Industry Federation (2013) considers only the grape or raisin itself to be potentially dangerous; grape-seed extracts per-se, are not considered to be a threat. Our aim was therefore to evaluate the renal and hepatic safety, and measure plasma derivatives of a polyphenol-rich extract from grape and blueberry (PEGB; from the Neurophenols Consortium) in dogs. Polyphenol expression was analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS over 8 hours, for dogs given PEGB at 4 mg/kg. Safety was evaluated using four groups of 6 dogs. These groups received capsules containing no PEGB (control), or PEGB at 4, 20, or 40 mg/kg BW/d, for 24 weeks. Blood and urine samples were taken the week prior to study commencement, then at the end of the 24-wk study period. Routine markers of renal and liver damage, including creatinine (Creat), blood urea nitrogen, albumin, minerals, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured. Biomarkers for early renal damage were also evaluated in plasma (cystatin C (CysC), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)), and urine (CysC, clusterin (Clu), and NGAL). Ratios of urinary biomarkers to Creat were calculated, and compared with acceptable maximal values obtained for healthy dogs, as reported in the literature.ResultsWhile several PEGB-specific polyphenols and metabolites were detected in dog plasma, at the end of the PEGB consumption period, our biomarker analyses presented no evidence of either renal or liver damage (Creat, BUN, ionogram, albumin and ALT, ALP). Similarly, no indication of early renal damage could be detected. Plasma CysC, urinary CysC/Creat, Clu/Creat, and NGAL/Creat ratios were all beneath reported benchmarked maximums, with no evidence of PEGB toxicity.ConclusionsLong-term consumption of a pet specific blend of a polyphenol-rich extract from grape and blueberry (PEGB; from the Neurophenols Consortium), was not associated with renal or hepatic injury, and can therefore be considered safe.

Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common adverse effects of antineoplastic agents, ranging in prevalence from 19% to over 85%. Clinically, CIPN is a predominantly sensory neuropathy that may be accompanied by motor and autonomic changes of varying intensity and duration. The high prevalence of CIPN among cancer patients makes it a major problem for both patients and survivors, as well as for their health care providers, especially because there is currently no single effective method of preventing CIPN; moreover, the options for treating this syndrome are very limited. Phycocyanin, a biliprotein pigment and an important constituent of the blue-green algae Spirulina platensis, has been reported to possess significant antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties, offering protection against oxidative stress, which is one of the hypothetic mechanisms, between others, of CIPN occurrence. Methods Our hypothesis is that phycocyanin may give protection against oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Our trial will be a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with 110 randomized patients suffering from metastatic gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma including esogastric, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Patients are being followed up in the gastroenterology or oncology departments of seven French hospitals. Discussion Due to the neuropathy, patients need to avoid injury by paying careful attention to home safety; patients’ physicians often prescribe over-the-counter pain medications. If validated, our hypothesis should help to limit neurotoxicity without the need to discontinue chemotherapy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05025826. First published on August 27, 2021.

The effect of PUFA on obesity‐associated oxidant stress could be explained by the stimulation of endogenous antioxidant processes, or by their own ability to be oxidized. The adjunction of antioxidant to PUFA could help to elucidate their mechanism of action.Our aim was to check the effects of PUFA supplementation w/wo curcumin polyphenols on metabolic status, plasma lipids, and antioxidant status in dogs.Obese dogs were given for 2 consecutive periods of 6 w hyperenergetic diet supplemented with either n‐3 PUFA (Diet1) then n‐3 PUFA plus curcumin (Diet2). Before (T0) and at the end of each 6‐wk period, body composition, insulin sensitivity (IS), plasma lipid and oxidative status markers (total antioxidant status, TAS and glutathione peroxidise, GPx) were determined.At the end of both periods, body composition and IS were did not differ from T0 values. At the end of Diet1, plasma NEFA were lower and total cholesterol was higher than at T0; at the end of Diet2, TG levels were lower. The TAS was higher than at T0 at the end of Diet1, and even more at the end of Diet2. Compared to T0 GPx activity was unchanged at the end of each period.Our results show that polyphenols could have synergistic effects with PUFA. This suggests that PUFA would not act as oxidation substrates. Indeed their protection against oxidation would account for their action. Further experiments could be helpful for a better understanding of the mechanism of action.

Grape polyphenols have beneficial health effects, but grape ingestion has been associated with acute renal failure leading most often to fatal issue in dogs. The responsible factors are unknown.Our aim was to check the safety of a supplement of polyphenol‐rich mixture (grape and blueberry extracts (specific pet Neurophenols® blend)) in dogs.Seventeen dogs were given, for 12 wks, capsules containing 4 (n=5) or 20 (n=6) or 40 (n=6) mg/kg/d of the polyphenol mixture. Five control dogs were given maltodextrin capsules. Blood and 24‐h urine were taken before the beginning of the study (W0), then after 4 wks and 12 wks of supplementation. Plasma standard analysis (creatinine (Creat), urea, minerals (Na, K, Ca, P), total protein, hepatic biomarkers (ALT, ALP)) were assayed. New biomarkers that reveal early renal damage were measured : plasma and urinary cystatin C (CysC), clusterin (Clu), neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL). Urinary biomarkers/Creat ratios were calculated. Data were compared with limits of reference intervals or with the highest values from our control dogs and experimental dogs at W0.Whatever the week, plasma standard analysis were below high limits of reference intervals. Plasma CysC concentration was below our own high limit. Plasma Clu and NGAL concentrations were below limits of reference intervals. Urinary CysC/Creat, Clu/Creat, NGAL/Creat ratios were below our own limit.Grape extract and blueberry extract (specific pet Neurophenols® blend) consumption was not associated with any sign of renal failure and can be consumed safely in dogs.