Kaisa Linderborg

Serum, cheek cell and breast milk fatty acid compositions in infants with atopic and non-atopic eczema

Background The major theory implicating diet with allergic diseases is associated with altered food consumption and subsequent changes in fatty acid composition.

Breast Milk Fatty Acids May Link Innate and Adaptive Immune Regulation: Analysis of Soluble CD14, Prostaglandin E2, and Fatty Acids

In addition to its role in sensing intraluminal microbial antigens, soluble (s)CD14 may regulate immune responses by its lesser known function as a lipid carrier with possible influences in the production of fatty acid-derived eicosanoids. We investigated the interrelations of fatty acids, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and sCD14 and their role in infant atopic eczema during the first year of life. Serum and breast milk samples from mothers and serum samples from their infants were collected at infants age 3 mo and analyzed for sCD14 and PGE2 concentrations and for fatty acid compositions. The main correlation of sCD14 was with arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) (AA). Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3n-6) (DHGLA) and the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids correlated positively and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) (DHA) and sum of n-3 fatty acid negatively with PGE2 in mothers serum and linoleic acid (LA) negatively with PGE2 in breast milk. Soluble CD14 tended to be higher and LA, total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and sum of n-6 fatty acids were lower in breast milk received by infants with atopic eczema compared with those without. These results suggest that fatty acids contribute to the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses and link intraluminal exposures, mothers diet, and microbes.

Distinct Patterns in Human Milk Microbiota and Fatty Acid Profiles Across Specific Geographic Locations

Breast feeding results in long term health benefits in the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases at both individual and population levels. Geographical location directly impacts the composition of breast milk including microbiota and lipids. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of geographical location, i.e., Europe (Spain and Finland), Africa (South Africa), and Asia (China), on breast milk microbiota and lipid composition in samples obtained from healthy mothers after the 1 month of lactation. Altogether, 80 women (20 from each country) participated in the study, with equal number of women who delivered by vaginal or cesarean section from each country. Lipid composition particularly that of polyunsaturated fatty acids differed between the countries, with the highest amount of n-6 PUFA (25.6%) observed in the milk of Chinese women. Milk microbiota composition also differed significantly between the countries (p = 0.002). Among vaginally delivered women, Spanish women had highest amount of Bacteroidetes (mean relative abundance of 3.75) whereas Chinese women had highest amount of Actinobacteria (mean relative abundance 5.7). Women who had had a cesarean section had higher amount of Proteobacteria as observed in the milk of the Spanish and South African women. Interestingly, the Spanish and South African women had significantly higher bacterial genes mapped to lipid, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism (p < 0.05). Association of the lipid profile with the microbiota revealed that monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were negatively associated with Proteobacteria (r = -0.43, p < 0.05), while Lactobacillus genus was associated with MUFA (r = -0.23, p = 0.04). These findings reveal that the milk microbiota and lipid composition exhibit differences based on geographical locations in addition to the differences observed due to the mode of delivery.

Postprandial hyperglycemia and insulin response are affected by sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) berry and its ethanol-soluble metabolites.

Background/Objectives:Repeated postprandial hyperglycemia and subsequent mild, late hypoglycemia as well as high postprandial insulin response lead to metabolic events that may eventually develop into type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess how sea buckthorn berries as well as two sea buckthorn extraction residues modulate the postprandial metabolism after a high-glucose meal.Subjects/Methods:Ten healthy normal-weight male volunteers consumed four study breakfasts, one control (A) and three sea buckthorn meals on four distinct study days. All the meals contained yoghurt and glucose (50 g). The sea buckthorn ingredients used were dried and crushed whole berries (meal B1), supercritical fluid (SF)-carbon dioxide (CO2)-extracted oil-free berries (meal B2) or ethanol-extracted SF-CO2-extraction residue (meal B3). Blood samples for glucose, insulin and tumor necrosis factor-α analyses were collected before and during the 6-h study period.Results:Meal B1 suppressed the postprandial peak insulin response when compared with meal A (Δconcentration of 30-min peak value −21.8 mU/l, P=0.039), and stabilized postprandial hyperglycemia and subsequent hypoglycemia (Δconcentration of 30-min peak value—120-min value −30.4 mU/l, P=0.036). Furthermore, meal B2 resulted in a more stable insulin response than the control meal (Δconcentration of 30-min peak value—120-min value −25.9 mU/l, P=0.037).Conclusions:Removal of the CO2-soluble oil component from the berries did not show a significant change in the studied postprandial effects of the berries. The EtOH soluble components, again showed advantageous properties in both insulin and glucose responses.

Postprandial metabolism of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n−3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n−3) in humans

The study of the metabolism of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) in humans has been limited by the unavailability of pure DPA and the fact that DPA is found in combination with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) in natural products. In this double blind cross over study, pure DPA and EPA were incorporated in meals served to healthy female volunteers. Mass spectrometric methods were used to study the chylomicron lipidomics. Plasma chylomicronemia was significantly reduced after the meal containing DPA compared with the meal containing EPA or olive oil only. Both EPA and DPA were incorporated into chylomicron TAGs, while there was less incorporation into chylomicron phospholipids. Lipidomic analysis of the chylomicron TAGs revealed the dynamic nature of chylomicron TAGs. The main TAG species that EPA and DPA were incorporated into were EPA/18:1/18:1, DPA/18:1/16:0 and DPA/18:1/18:1. There was very limited conversion of DPA and EPA to DHA and there were no increases in EPA levels during the 5h postprandial period after the DPA meal. In conclusion, EPA and DPA showed different metabolic fates, and DPA hindered the digestion, ingestion or incorporation into chylomicrons of the olive oil present in the meal.

Lipidomic Profiling of Chylomicron Triacylglycerols in Response to High Fat Meals

Using lipidomic methodologies the impact that meal lipid composition and metabolic syndrome (MetS) exerts on the postprandial chylomicron triacylglycerol (TAG) response was examined. Males (9 control; 11 MetS) participated in a randomised crossover trial ingesting two high fat breakfast meals composed of either dairy-based foods or vegetable oil-based foods. The postprandial lipidomic molecular composition of the TAG in the chylomicron-rich (CM) fraction was analysed with tandem mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography to profile CM TAG species and targeted TAG regioisomers. Postprandial CM TAG concentrations were significantly lower after the dairy-based foods compared with the vegetable oil-based foods for both control and MetS subjects. The CM TAG response to the ingested meals involved both significant and differential depletion of TAG species containing shorter- and medium-chain fatty acids (FA) and enrichment of TAG molecular species containing C16 and C18 saturated, monounsaturated and diunsaturated FA. Furthermore, there were significant changes in the TAG species between the food TAG and CM TAG and between the 3- and 5-h postprandial samples for the CM TAG regioisomers. Unexpectedly, the postprandial CM TAG concentration and CM TAG lipidomic responses did not differ between the control and MetS subjects. Lipidomic analysing of CM TAG molecular species revealed dynamic changes in the molecular species of CM TAG during the postprandial phase suggesting either preferential CM TAG species formation and/or clearance.

The fiber and/or polyphenols present in lingonberries null the glycemic effect of the sugars present in the berries when consumed together with added glucose in healthy human volunteers

This study was undertaken on the broad hypothesis that lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) has potential to reduce postprandial glycemic and lipemic response. More specifically, 2 postprandial crossover studies with healthy normal-weight male subjects were conducted to study the influence of commercial lingonberry powder on postprandial glycemia and lipemia. The test meals contained fat-free yoghurt with either glucose (50 g) or triacylglycerols (35 g) with or without (control) the lingonberry powder. The lingonberry powder provided the meals with a known amount of fiber and a known amount and composition of sugars, and it was a rich source of polyphenols. Postprandial glucose, insulin, and triacylglycerol responses were analyzed. There were no significant differences in the postprandial glucose concentration between the meals in the glycemia trial despite the fact that the lingonberry meal contained more glucose and fructose. When the meal did not contain added sugar but, instead, added triacylglycerol, no glycemia or lipemia-lowering effect was detected. On the contrary, there were indications of higher glycemic and insulinemic effect after the lingonberry meal. The results of this study indicate that the fibers and/or polyphenols present in lingonberries null the glycemic effect of the sugars present in the berries when consumed together with added glucose. By contrast, the lingonberry powder did not affect the postprandial lipemic response.

Triacylglycerol Fatty Acid Positional Distribution and Postprandial Lipid Metabolism

Triacylglycerol (TAG) structure affects the biochemical properties of fat. According to studies with animals and infants, absorption of palmitic and stearic acids is inferior from the stereospecifically numbered (sn) positions sn-1 and sn-3 compared with from the sn-2 position of TAGs, and saturated fatty acids in the sn-2 position, delay the clearance of chylomicron remnants. Medium chain fatty acids are transported both in lymph and in portal blood, lymphatic absorption being more efficient from the sn-2 position.Recently, new information has arisen on the variation in TAG composition within the postprandial period and on differences in the TAG structure-dependent formation and clearance of chylomicron and very low density lipoprotein TAGs. This article reviews the metabolism of TAG fatty acids in different sn positions.

Comparison of the bioavailability of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) in the rat

Based on the results from a human study which showed significantly reduced incorporation of DPA compared with EPA into chylomicrons, this study was designed to test if dietary DPA was significantly less absorbed than EPA. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups of six, and were fed a semi-synthetic high fat diet (23.5% fat) for 9 days. The test omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DPA, 250mg/animal/day, free fatty acid form) or olive oil (250mg/animal/day) were added to the high fat diet on days 5, 6 and 7. Dietary EPA and DPA appeared in the faeces on days 6, 7 and 8, with the total amount of DPA excreted being 4.6-fold greater than that of EPA. The total amount of faecal fat did not differ significantly between the groups. At the conclusion of the study (day 9), it was found that liver DPA, EPA and total n-3 LC-PUFA levels were significantly increased by both DPA and EPA feeding compared with the olive oil fed control group. In the heart, DPA feeding increased the DPA content and both DPA and EPA feeding increased the total n-3 LC-PUFA levels. This study showed that DPA and EPA, both provided in free form, are metabolised differently, despite being chemically similar.

Vertebral bone marrow glucose uptake is inversely associated with bone marrow fat in diabetic and healthy pigs: [18F]FDG-PET and MRI study

OBJECTIVES Diabetes induces osteoporosis and during osteoporosis, vertebral bone marrow (VBM) adipose tissue amount increases. The association between this adiposity and bone marrow metabolism is unclear. Here, we compared VBM glucose metabolism and fat content in healthy and diabetic pigs, in vivo, using positron emission tomography (PET), in-phase and out-of-phase magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy ((1)H MR spectroscopy). MATERIALS/METHODS Eleven pigs (n=11) were used. The intervention group had five diabetic and the control group had six healthy pigs. To measure metabolism, PET-imaging with [(18)F]fluoro-deoxy-glucose ([(18)F]FDG) intravenous tracer was used. 1.5-T MRI with (1)H spectroscopy, in-phase and out-of-phase imaging and chemical TAG analysis of the VBM were performed. RESULTS We found a significant inverse correlation between VBM glucose uptake (GU) and VBM fat content (R=-0.800, p<0.01) and TAG concentration assay (R=-0.846, p<0.05). There was a trend, although non-significant, of a linear correlation between VBM (1)H MR spectroscopy and TAG concentration (R=0.661) and (1)H MR spectroscopy and in-phase and out-of-phase MR imaging (R=0.635). CONCLUSIONS VBM glucose metabolism coupled with VBM fat content may impact diabetic induced osteoporosis.