Effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against microbial pathogens

Abstract

Microorganisms provide both beneficial and harmful effects to human beings. Beneficial effects come from the symbiotic relationship that exists between humans and microbiota, but then several human illnesses have turned some friendly microbes into opportunistic pathogens, causing several microbial-related diseases. Various efforts have been made to create and utilize antimicrobial agents in the treatment and prevention of these infections, but such efforts have been hampered by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Despite extensive studies on drug discovery to alleviate this problem, issues with the toxicity and tolerance of certain compounds and continuous microbial evolution have forced researchers to focus on screening various phytochemical dietary compounds for antimicrobial activity. Linolenic acid and its derivatives (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) are omega-3 fatty acids that have been studied due to their role in human health, being important for the brain, the eye, the cardiovascular system, and general human growth. However, their utilization as antimicrobial agents has not been widely appreciated, perhaps due to a lack of understanding of antimicrobial mechanisms, toxicity, and route of administration. Therefore, this review focuses on the efficacy, mechanism, and toxicity of omega-3 fatty acids as alternative therapeutic agents for treating and preventing diseases associated with pathogenic microorganisms.

Salmo salar fish waste oil: Fatty acids composition and antibacterial activity

“…Pathogenic agents can cause infections in different ways, such as through the production of virulence factors and biofilms formation, (Beceiro, Tomás & Bou, 2013;Schroeder, Brooks & Brooks, 2017). In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acids, and in particular linolenic acid and its derivatives, used alone or in combination with conventional antibiotics, possess antimicrobial properties (Chanda et al, 2018). Omega-6, -7, -9 fatty acids, such as γ-linolenic, linoleic, arachidonic, palmitoleic and oleic acids, their ethyl esters and methyl esters, were also shown to be effective against various microorganisms (Huang, George & Ebersole, 2010).…”

“…PUFAs and free fatty acids (FFA) have also been studied for their antimicrobial activity which is characterized by a broad spectrum of activity and the lack of classical resistance mechanisms (Desbois & Smith, 2010;Desbois, 2012;Desbois & Lawlor, 2013). In a recent paper (Chanda et al, 2018), different hypothesis were proposed as PUFAs antimicrobial mode of action which include disruption of intercellular communication, interruption of ATP production, alteration of membrane properties, disruption of fatty acids synthesis, affecting the electron transport system and increasing the number of membrane pores (Zheng et al, 2005;Carballeira, 2008). In addition, as explained elsewhere (Desbois & Smith, 2010), FFAs can also impair Staphylococcus aureus skin colonization through stratum corneum acidification (Fluhr et al 2001;Takigawa et al, 2005).…”

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Reduces Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

“…This dose was chosen based on prior studies in showing anti-inflammatory effects of n-3 FA in diabetic rats when 500 mg/kg/day were administered [19]. Previous studies found no evidence of toxicity of oral n-3 FA supplementation at 2000 mg/kg/day in rats as summarized in a review by Chanda et al [20]. Prior to surgery, rats were trained for a week to drink from the syringe.…”

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review

“…For example, omega-3 FAs play a role in mediating inflammatory processes and immunomodulation for both innate and acquired immune systems [ 9 ]. Also, a study done by Chanda and team concluded that omega-3 FAs could be a potential antimicrobial drug with little potential for drug resistance [ 44 ]. However, the use of these fatty acids as antimicrobial agents has not yet received much attention in clinical medicine worldwide.…”