Leukocyte Activation and Antioxidative Defense Are Interrelated and Moderately Modified by n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Eggs Consumption—Double-Blind Controlled Randomized Clinical Study

Abstract

This placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, interventional study investigated the effects of low/intermediate doses of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the endothelial function, markers of leukocyte activation, and oxidative status following dietary intake of n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs in young healthy individuals. Twenty young healthy adults of both sexes who consumed n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs (two eggs per day, for three weeks, total of approximately 407 mg/day n-3 PUFAs) or regular eggs (two eggs per day for three weeks, total of approximately 75 mg/day n-3 PUFAs) participated in this study. Skin microvascular endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasodilation were assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry. Serum lipid profile and content of free fatty acids, markers of leukocyte activation, biochemical parameters of oxidative stress, as well as antioxidative enzymes serum activity were measured before and after respective dietary protocol. The results of this study revealed significant differences in the markers of leukocyte activation (such as CD11a/LFA-1) and antioxidative defense, which are related to increased intake of n-3 PUFAs, providing the evidence that consumption of nutritionally enriched hen eggs may affect physiological processes related to oxidative balance. The absence of significant changes in microvascular reactivity following supplementation with a low-intermediate dose of n-3 PUFAs, unlike in our previous studies where functional eggs contained ~1 g of n-3 PUFA, suggests the existence of a dose-dependent effect.

Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Hen Egg Consumption on the Inflammatory Biomarkers and Microvascular Function in Patients with Acute and Chronic Coronary Syndrome—A Randomized Study

“…In addition, a Mediterranean type of diet that is rich in n-3 PUFAs is associated with lower levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and is widely recommended not only to cardiovascular patients but to the general population as well [ 42 ]. Interestingly, low or medium doses of n-3 PUFA intake in the form of enriched hen eggs increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in young and healthy individuals, indicating that n-3 PUFAs could be involved in the physiological processes associated with oxidative balance in healthy individuals [ 22 ]. The present results demonstrated that intake of n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs significantly decreased GPx activity but did not affect TBARS (a measure of oxidative stress) and FRAP (a measure of antioxidant capacity) levels in patients with CAD.…”

“…Our recently published work showed that consumption of two n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs per day for three weeks (~410 mg of n-3 PUFAs per day) had immunomodulatory effects, without affecting the reactivity of peripheral microcirculation in healthy young subjects [ 22 ]. However, an increased amount of n-3 PUFAs in the daily diet to 1053 g of n-3 PUFAs/day for 3 weeks increased serum free n-3 PUFA concentration and enhanced skin microvascular reactivity while reducing proinflammatory and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine serum concentration in healthy young subjects [ 23 ].…”

Does the Endothelium of Competitive Athletes Benefit from Consumption of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Hen Eggs?

“…n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs were produced according to the protocol of research group from Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences, University of Osijek ( Stupin et al, 2018a ; Stupin et al, 2020 ; Mihalj et al, 2020 ). In brief, soybean oil (5%) fed to laying hens in feed was replaced with a mixture of fish (1.5%) and linseed (3.5%) oil.…”

“…In brief, soybean oil (5%) fed to laying hens in feed was replaced with a mixture of fish (1.5%) and linseed (3.5%) oil. Preparation and analysis of samples (feeding mixtures for laying hens and edible parts of eggs) to determine fatty acid content was performed in accordance with our well-established protocols, which are described in detail in previous publications ( Stupin et al, 2018a ; Stupin et al, 2020 ; Mihalj et al, 2020 ). Portions of saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, n-6 PUFAs, and n-3 PUFAs were determined in g/100 g of total fatty acids in feed, and in mg/100 g in eggs (edible part), as previously described ( Stupin et al, 2020 ).…”

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids—Vascular and Cardiac Effects on the Cellular and Molecular Level (Narrative Review)

“…N-3 PUFAs did not improve plaque burden, morphologic vessel characteristics or lipid burden. A human controlled-randomized clinical trial in young, healthy individuals revealed markers of leukocyte activation (such as CD11a/LFA-1) and antioxidative defense to be related to an increased intake of n-3 PUFAs [45]. Furthermore, n-3 PUFA consumption induced a significant shift towards antiinflammatory prostanoids and increased levels of pro-resolving oxylipins and increased TGFβ-1 and reduced interleukin 6 secretions by peripheral Th17 cells.…”