Low dietary fish-oil threshold for myocardial membrane n-3 PUFA enrichment independent of n-6 PUFA intake in rats

DHA at nutritional doses restores insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle by preventing lipotoxicity and inflammation

“…The doses used in the present study (0.1%, 1% or 2% of DEI) were similar to omega 3 supplementations in humans frequently reported in clinical trials [31,32,43,44]. A comparison between rodents and humans showed that 1% of energy intake represents a high dietary intake providing approximately 2 g per day of omega 3 [45].…”

“…It was previously demonstrated that only a few hours were required for omega 3 FA accumulation in muscle cells [45][46][47]. These FAs were well incorporated into phospholipids but could also be oxidized by mitochondria.…”

Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and risk of cardiovascular mortality in a low fish-consuming population: a prospective cohort analysis

“…These findings are supported by the GISSI-Prevenzione randomised trial of fish oil in a post-myocardial infarction population which noted a 45 % reduction in risk of sudden cardiac death [7]. Experimental evidence suggests that incorporation of the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] into myocardial membranes drives the anti-arrhythmic effect [8], and this is independent of the background level of dietary n-6 PUFA [9]. However, other studies have found no significant effect on CVD mortality, and these differences are reflected in disparate findings across a series of recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews [10][11][12].…”

“…Experimental evidence suggests that there is a threshold of incorporation into cellular membranes [9], and the body of clinical and human trial evidence suggests that the threshold for prevention of CVD mortality may be around 500 mg EPA + DHA per day (equivalent to around 2-3 servings of fatty fish per week) [45]. The intake of long-chain n-3 PUFA in the AusDiab cohort was slightly higher than that reported in the last published national survey of Australian dietary intake conducted in 1995 (which was in the order of ~0.25 g/day n-3 PUFA) [46], although intakes remained around half of that recommended by Australian and international bodies for primary prevention of CVD and less than a third of that recommended for secondary CVD prevention.…”

Weighing Up Fish and Omega-3 PUFA Advice with Accurate, Balanced Scales: Stringent Controls and Measures Required for Clinical Trials

“…On the other hand, most fish oil supplements contain more EPA than DHA and the JELIS trial used a pure EPA supplement. Whilst it is still not clear which of EPA and DHA is the active component of fish oil, there is no doubt that myocardium incorporates DHA in preference to EPA in man [11] and in animal [12], and they may in fact each actively influence different endpoints [4,10].…”