Plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and inflammatory markers in Chinese vegetarians

Lipids in Health and Disease, Sep 2014

Background Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake favorably affects chronic inflammatory-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease; however, the relationship between the PUFA and inflammatory factors in the healthy vegetarians were not clear. We aimed to investigate the plasma fatty acids status, and its association with plasma inflammatory factors in Chinese vegetarians and omnivores. Methods A total of 89 male vegetarians and 106 male omnivores were participated the study. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA, and as standard methods fatty acids were extracted and determined by chromatography. Results Compared with omnivores, vegetarians have significant higher interleukin-6 (IL-6), plasma n-6 PUFA, n-6/n-3, and 18:3n-3; while they have significant lower leukotriene B4 (LTB4), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, and n-3 PUFA. In vegetarians, plasma 20:4n-6 was significant positively related to TNF-α. LTB4 was significantly positively related to plasma 22:6n-3, and negatively associated with n-6 PUFA. Conclusion Vegetarians have higher plasma n-6 PUFA and IL-6, but lower LTB4, n-3 PUFA, 22:6n-3, COX2 and PGE2 levels. It would seem appropriate for vegetarians to increase their dietary n-3 PUFA, while reduce dietary n-6 PUFA and thus reduce the risk of chronic inflammatory-related diseases.

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Plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and inflammatory markers in Chinese vegetarians

Xiaomei Yu [email protected] 1 Tao Huang Xiumei Weng 1 Tianxing Shou 0 Qiang Wang 1 Xiaoqiong Zhou 1 Qinxin Hu 1 Duo Li [email protected] 0 0 Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University , 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310059 , China 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Hospital , 12 Linyin Road, Hangzhou 310030 , China Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake favorably affects chronic inflammatory-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease; however, the relationship between the PUFA and inflammatory factors in the healthy vegetarians were not clear. We aimed to investigate the plasma fatty acids status, and its association with plasma inflammatory factors in Chinese vegetarians and omnivores. Methods: A total of 89 male vegetarians and 106 male omnivores were participated the study. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA, and as standard methods fatty acids were extracted and determined by chromatography. Results: Compared with omnivores, vegetarians have significant higher interleukin-6 (IL-6), plasma n-6 PUFA, n-6/n-3, and 18:3n-3; while they have significant lower leukotriene B4 (LTB4), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, and n-3 PUFA. In vegetarians, plasma 20:4n-6 was significant positively related to TNF-. LTB4 was significantly positively related to plasma 22:6n-3, and negatively associated with n-6 PUFA. Conclusion: Vegetarians have higher plasma n-6 PUFA and IL-6, but lower LTB4, n-3 PUFA, 22:6n-3, COX2 and PGE2 levels. It would seem appropriate for vegetarians to increase their dietary n-3 PUFA, while reduce dietary n-6 PUFA and thus reduce the risk of chronic inflammatory-related diseases. - Introduction It is widely recognized that overall mortality, ischemic heart disease mortality and overall cancer incidence are lower in vegetarians compared with omnivores [1,2]. The dietary patterns of vegetarians as well as their healthful lifestyle practices are thought to at least partly explain these differences. Vegetarian diets are rich in fiber, magnesium, Fe3+, folic acid, vitamins C and E, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), phytochemicals, and antioxidants [3]. Another notable difference relates to the type and amount of fat in the diet. Vegetarian diets are slightly lower in total fat than omnivorous diets [4,5]. Low intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids (SFA), and sodium and high intake of fiber, phytochemicals, and antioxidants in vegetarians is associated with low blood pressure and body mass index [3]. However, vegetarians diets are low in sodium, zinc, Fe2+, vitamins A, vitamins B12, and D, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) [3,6]. With respect to intake of essential fatty acid, especially n-3 PUFA, vegetarian diets appear to offer no advantages over omnivorous dietary patterns. It has been suggested that vegetarians could be at a significant disadvantage, as consumption of -linolenic acid (18:3n-3) islow, resulting in limited conversion of 18:3n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) [7]. In addition, ovolacto vegetarian could get limited amount of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, however, vegan diet almost has no 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, they may get tiny amount from algae and seaweed [4]. Eicosanoids, which are the mediators and regulators of inflammation, are generated from 20-carbon PUFA. Because inflammatory cells typically contain a high proportion of the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and low proportions of other 20-carbon PUFA [8], 20:4n-6 is a substrate of 2- and 4-series eicosanoids, which are associated with inflammation. Many anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapies are directed at inhibiting the production of these inflammatory mediators and thus possibilities exist for therapies that incorporate n-3 PUFA [9]. High level of n-3 PUFA in the diet can suppress the production of both tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) [10]. Dietary supplementation with encapsulated fish oil rich in 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 has been shown to result in decreased synthesis of TNF- and interleukin-1 (IL-1) monocyte by in healthy subjects [10]. To date, no study reported the relationship of plasma fatty acids with blood inflammatory factors in Chinese vegetarians. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the status of plasma fatty acids and to examine the potential relationship between fatty acids and plasma inflammatory factors in Chinese vegetarians and omnivores. Materials and methods Subjects The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China, and all subjects were volunteers who gave their written consent prior to participation in the study. A total of 89 male vegetarians (aged 35.39 12.2 year) were recruited in Linyin Temple, Hangzhou, China. A vegetarian was defined as someone who ate no red meat, fish and chicken, and had been following this diet for at least (...truncated)


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Xiaomei Yu, Tao Huang, Xiumei Weng, Tianxing Shou, Qiang Wang, Xiaoqiong Zhou, Qinxin Hu, Duo Li. Plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and inflammatory markers in Chinese vegetarians, Lipids in Health and Disease, 2014, pp. 151, 13, DOI: 10.1186/1476-511X-13-151