Maternal long-chain PUFA supplementation during protein deficiency improves brain fatty acid accretion in rat pups by altering the milk fatty acid composition of the dam

Abstract

Long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) are important for fetal and neonatal brain development. However, their accretion in the brain is compromised during maternal protein restriction. Hence, we investigated the effect of maternal supplementation with n-3 DHA plus n-6 arachidonic acid (ARA) at a low protein level (9 %) on offspring brain fatty acid accretion using Wistar rats (nine rats per group) randomly fed a control (C), a low-protein (LP) or a low-protein DHA + ARA-supplemented (LPS) diet during gestation and lactation. At birth, pups from the LPS group had the highest brain DHA and n-3 fatty acid levels (P = 0·001), whereas pups from the LP group had the highest MUFA (P = 0·05) but the lowest DHA and total n-3 PUFA levels (P = 0·000). During lactation, pups from the LPS group accrued significantly more α-linolenic acid (P = 0·003), EPA (P = 0·02) and DHA (P = 0·000) in brain lipids than pups from the LP group, whereas brain lipids of pups from the LP group had markedly increased levels of the n-3 deficiency marker docosapentaenoic acid and n-6:n-3 ratio (P = 0·000). Owing to supplementation, milk from LPS dams had the highest DHA and ARA, but lower SCFA and medium-chain fatty acids as compared with milk from C and LP dams during early lactation, but normalised by mid-lactation. To conclude, adverse effects of restricted maternal protein intake on LC-PUFA accretion in the brain of offspring were ameliorated by alterations in maternal milk fatty acid profile due to supplementation. Results underscore the importance of LC-PUFA for protein-deficient mothers during gestation as well as lactation to achieve the optimum brain LC-PUFA status of progeny.

High‐Oleic Ready‐to‐Use Therapeutic Food Maintains Docosahexaenoic Acid Status in Severe Malnutrition

“…A recent study in rats showed that protein malnutrition compromises brain DHA, and that brain DHA can be improved by increasing DHA in rat milk (5). If these results apply to humans the importance of nutritional DHA support via reduced LA and/or supplemental DHA are all the more critical.…”

Efecto Del Extracto De Maíz Morado Sobre La Expresión Génica De Srebp-1, 5d Y 6d en Glándula Mamaria De Ratas Nodrizas Suplementadas Con Aceite De Chía (Salvia Hispánica L.)

“…La placenta transfiere principalmente ácidos grasos poliinsaturados de cadena larga de la serie n-3 y n-6 (AGPICL) fisiológicamente importantes (1), y durante las primeras etapas de vida la leche materna constituye la fuente exclusiva del ácido docosahexaenoico (C22:6 n-3, DHA), de especial importancia para lograr un óptimo desarrollo neurológico (2) puesto que el feto y el neonato tienen limitada capacidad para sintetizarlo (3). Los requerimientos de lípidos durante la gestación y lactancia determinan procesos de adaptación metabólica como el incremento de las reservas grasas en el tejido adiposo y la participación de tejidos extrahepáticos (4).…”

“…Estudios en ratas hembras y mujeres señalan que la suplementación con ácido eicosapentaenoico (C20:5 n-3, EPA) y DHA incrementa la concentración de estos AGPICL en la leche materna (3,8,9). No obstante, existe información divergente al suplementar con ácido α linolénico (C18:3 n-3, ALA): Francois, et al (10) señalan que la suplementación con aceite de linaza, rico en ALA, (53.6% de ácidos grasos del perfil lipídico) aumenta la concentración de este ácido graso y de EPA, sin efecto sobre la síntesis de DHA.…”

“…43, Nº3, 2016 Efecto del extracto de maíz morado sobre la expresión génica de srebp-1, Δ5d y Δ6d en glándula mamaria de ratas nodrizas suplementadas con aceite de chía (Salvia Hispánica L.) enzimas clave en la síntesis de AGPI n-6 y n-3 (6), se expresan principalmente en la glándula mamaria, por tanto la síntesis de AGPICL sería relevante en este tejido, lo que sumado a la síntesis hepática asegurarían un aporte suficiente de estos ácidos grasos durante la lactancia materna (7). Estudios en ratas hembras y mujeres señalan que la suplementación con ácido eicosapentaenoico (C20:5 n-3, EPA) y DHA incrementa la concentración de estos AGPICL en la leche materna (3,8,9). No obstante, existe información divergente al suplementar con ácido α linolénico (C18:3 n-3, ALA): Francois, et al (10) señalan que la suplementación con aceite de linaza, rico en ALA, (53.6% de ácidos grasos del perfil lipídico) aumenta la concentración de este ácido graso y de EPA, sin efecto sobre la síntesis de DHA.…”

Commentary on ‘Maternal long-chain PUFA supplementation during protein deficiency improves brain fatty acid accretion in rat pups by altering the milk fatty acid composition of the dam’ by Ranade and Rao

“…In the Journal of Nutritional Science , Ranade & Rao ( 1 ) present an animal study of importance for nutritional situations in which protein is in short supply. They consider whether preformed DHA and arachidonic acid (ARA) in the dam's diet modify the effects of a low-protein diet on the DHA status of the rat pup brain.…”