Effect of randomized supplementation with high dose olive, flax or fish oil on serum phospholipid fatty acid levels in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

-Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been positively correlated with cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric health in several studies. The high seafood intake by the Japanese and Greenland Inuit has resulted in low ratios of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA,, with the Japanese showing AA:EPA ratios of approximately 1.7 and the Greenland Eskimos showing ratios of approximately 0.14. It was the objective of this study to determine the effect of supplementation with high doses (60 g) of flax and fish oils on the blood phospholipid (PL) fatty acid status, and AA/EPA ratio of individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), commonly associated with decreased blood omega-3 fatty acid levels. Thirty adults with ADHD were randomized to 12 weeks of supplementation with olive oil (< 1% omega-3 fatty acids), flax oil (source of alpha-linolenic acid; 18:3n-3; α-LNA) or fish oil (source of EPA and docosahexaenoic acid; 22:6n-3; DHA). Serum PL fatty acid levels were determined at baseline and at 12 weeks. Flax oil supplementation resulted in an increase in α-LNA and a slight decrease in the ratio of AA/EPA, while fish oil supplementation resulted in increases in EPA, DHA and total omega-3 fatty acids and a decrease in the AA/EPA ratio to values seen in the Japanese population. These data suggest that in order to increase levels of EPA and DHA in adults with ADHD, and decrease the AA/EPA ratio to levels seen in high fish consuming populations, high dose fish oil may be preferable to high dose flax oil. Future study is warranted to determine whether correction of low levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is of therapeutic benefit in this population. omega-3 fatty acids / fish oil / flax oil / attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / adults Abbreviations: ADHD: Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder; DHA: docosahexaenoic acid; EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid; LNA: linolenic acid; PL: phospholipids.

Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in diabetic rats by decreasing the excitability of DRG neurons

“…We are liable to believe that systemic DHA administration is helpful to improve the overall condition of diabetic rats. It has been reported that fish oil supplementation increased EPA and DHA in serum (Young et al, 2005), which suggested that DHA may have direct effect on the DRG neurons. In the present study, DHA was administrated intrathecally and attenuated pain behaviors of diabetic rats, which may be associated with its direct effect on modulating the neuron excitability.…”

Dietary fish oil inhibits mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in diabetic rats by blocking nuclear factor-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways

“…FO inhibited the subunits of NF-κB entering the nucleus and decreased the NF-κB level in the nucleus, and NF-κB maintained in the cytoplasm as an inactive form, which contributed to decreased inflammatory cytokines. It has been reported that FO supplementation increased EPA and DHA in serum [39], and DHA performed the neuroprotective effect on hippocampal neurons by its antioxidant effect, preventing inflammatory cytokine expression, and anti-apoptotic potential [40]. FO supplementation is also liable to exert effects on the DRGs directly.…”

Fatty acids isolated from royal jelly modulate dendritic cell-mediated immune response in vitro

“…The real answer could be given based on pharmacokinetic studies with RJ, but such literature data are lacking. However, based on the content of fatty acids in RJ [19], therapeutic doses of RJ exhibiting the immunomodulatory activity in rats [14] including our results that 3,10-DDA inhibited the KLH-induced immune response in vivo and pharmacokinetics of other fatty acids [39][40][41], it can be concluded that our in vitro results might be relevant in vivo.…”