Fatty acid composition of serum lipid classes in mice following allergic sensitisation with or without dietary docosahexaenoic acid-enriched fish oil substitution

Br J Nutr. 2008 Jun;99(6):1239-46. doi: 10.1017/S0007114507862374. Epub 2007 Nov 16.

Abstract

Dietary fatty acids have been shown to influence allergic sensitisation. Both n-3 and n-6 PUFA are involved in targeted mediation of inflammatory responses during allergic sensitisation and manifestation of atopic diseases. In the present experiments we investigated whether supplementation of DHA-enriched fish oil partly substituting dietary sunflower-seed oil, in comparison with sunflower-seed oil, supplemented to mice influences fatty acid composition of serum lipid classes. The effects of the two different diets were also investigated depending on allergic sensitisation. Supplementation of DHA and EPA in doses of 2 and 0.12 % (w/w) to non-sensitised and sensitised mice resulted in significantly increased percentile contributions of DHA to all lipid classes. In contrast, serum values of the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid (AA) were significantly lower, both in non-sensitised and sensitised mice fed the DHA-enriched diet. The fatty acid composition of serum lipids also reflected allergic sensitisation: the EPA:AA ratio in TAG, cholesteryl esters and phospholipids in non-supplemented animals fell to 23, 29 and 29 % respectively of the original value after allergic sensitisation, whereas it decreased to 70, 80 and 76 % respectively only in the animals supplemented with DHA. In summary, allergic sensitisation alone decreased significantly the EPA:AA ratios in serum TAG, while concomitant supplementation of DHA-enriched fish oil ameliorated this decrease. We postulate from the present results that the amelioration of the severity of allergic sensitisation after DHA supplementation may be linked to altered ratios of the eicosanoid precursors EPA and AA as well as DHA needed for further metabolic activation to pro- or anti-inflammatory bioactive lipids.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Cholesterol Esters / chemistry
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Fatty Acids / analysis*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Fish Oils / administration & dosage*
  • Galactosylceramides
  • Hypersensitivity / blood*
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Animal
  • Ovalbumin
  • Phospholipids / chemistry
  • Plant Oils
  • Sunflower Oil
  • Triglycerides / chemistry*
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Cholesterol Esters
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fish Oils
  • Galactosylceramides
  • PBS 57
  • Phospholipids
  • Plant Oils
  • Sunflower Oil
  • Triglycerides
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid
  • Ovalbumin
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid