Ella N. Smit

The relation between the omega-3 index and arachidonic acid is bell shaped: Synergistic at low EPA+DHA status and antagonistic at high EPA+DHA status

INTRODUCTION The relation between docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) vs. arachidonic acid (AA) seems characterized by both synergism and antagonism. MATERIALS AND METHODS Investigate the relation between EPA+DHA and AA in populations with a wide range of EPA+DHA status and across the life cycle. EPA+DHA and AA were determined in erythrocytes (RBC; n=1979), umbilical arteries (UA; n=789) and umbilical veins (UV; n=785). RESULTS In all compartments, notably RBC, the relation between EPA+DHA and AA appeared bell-shaped. Populations with low RBC-EPA+DHA (<2g%) exhibited positive relationships; those with high RBC-EPA+DHA (>8g%) negative relationships. Antagonism in UA and UV could not be demonstrated. CONCLUSION Both synergism and antagonism might aim at a balance between ω6 and ω3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCP) to maintain homeostasis. Synergism might be a feature of low LCPω3 status. AA becomes suppressed by antagonism from an RBC-EPA+DHA >8g%.

Milk of women with lifetime consumption of the recommended daily intake of fish fatty acids should constitute the basis for the DHA contents of infant formula

Sir, The recent guidelines for long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCP) contents of infant formulas and baby foods, as endorsed by the World Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Early Nutrition Academy and the Child Health Foundation, recommend a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) level of at least 0.2 wt% of fatty acids, but without exceeding 0.5 wt% w5x. The basis of this recommendation is that at least 0.2 wt% DHA is necessary to achieve benefits on functional endpoints, but that systematic evaluation of levels above 0.5 wt% DHA was not published. The recommendation also acknowledges that ‘‘breast is best’’, that pregnant and lactating women should aim at dietary LCPv3 intakes that supply at least 200 mg DHA per day and that higher intakes up to 1 g DHA and 2.7 g LCPv3 have been studied without significant adverse effects. We contend that a discrepancy seems to exist between the conclusion that ‘‘breast is best’’, a maternal intake of at least 200 mg DHA per day and the advice not to exceed 0.5 wt% DHA in infant formula. Our argument is that, at present, human milk from women with recommended intakes of LCPv3 should set the stage for recommendations of DHA in infant formula and not the current lack of a systematic evaluation of DHA levels above 0.5 wt%. This is because the milk DHA

Short-term carnitine supplementation does not augment LCPomega3 status of vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians.

Objective: Long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (LCPω3) synthesis, notably that of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), from the precursor alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) proceeds with difficulty. We investigated whether carnitine supplementation augments the LCPω3 status of apparently healthy vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians, who are expected to have low carnitine status. Methods: Group A (n = 11) took 990 mg/day l-carnitine from weeks 1–4, and 990 mg/day l-carnitine + 4 mL/day linseed oil from weeks 5–8. Group B (n = 9) took 4 mL/day linseed oil from weeks 1–4, and 4 mL/day linseed oil + 990 mg/day l-carnitine from weeks 5–8. Fatty acid compositions of red blood cells, platelets, plasma cholesterol esters and plasma triglycerides were measured in the fasting state at baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks. Results: Carnitine supplementation increased plasma free and total carnitine concentrations with 30 and 25%, respectively, but did not affect eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA contents of any of the investigated compartments. EPA and DHA changes were negatively related to initial carnitine status. Conclusions: Our results suggest that carnitine is not an important limiting factor, if any, for LCPω3 synthesis in vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians. This conclusion is also likely to apply to omnivores. The most efficient means to augment EPA and particularly DHA status remains consumption of LCPω3 from e.g. fish or supplements.