Effects of α-linolenic acid supplementation in perilla oil on collagen-epinephrine closure time, activated partial thromboplastin time and Lp-PLA 2 activity in non-diabetic and hypercholesterolaemic subjects

Perilla oil and α-linolenic acid ameliorated thrombosis in rats induced by collagen and epinephrine

Perilla frutescens is an annual herbaceous plant widely cultivated for oil production in China, Japan, and Korea. In this study, we investigated the effect of perilla oil (PO) on thrombosis induced by collagen and epinephrine (CE) in rats. The oral administration of PO significantly increased prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in the blood plasma and inhibited the expression of cells adhesion markers (CAMs) such as intercellular CAM-1 (ICAM-1), vascular CAM (VCAM-1), E-selectin and P-selectin in the aorta tissue. Furthermore, pulmonary occlusion induced by CE in rats was suppressed by PO. α-Linolenic acid (ALA) was quantified at 60.14 ± 2.50 g/100 g of PO, and its oral administration at the same concentration with that in PO exerted the similar effect on PT, aPTT, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin in CE-induced thrombosis rats. Taken together, PO and ALA significantly ameliorated thrombosis by regulating CAMs.

The review of alpha-linolenic acid: Sources, metabolism, and pharmacology

α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) is a carboxylic acid composed of 18 carbon atoms and three cis double bonds, and is an essential fatty acid indispensable to the human body. This study aims to systematically review related studies on the dietary sources, metabolism, and pharmacological effects of ALA. Information on ALA was collected from the internet database PubMed, Elsevier, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, and Europe PMC using a combination of keywords including "pharmacology," "metabolism," "sources." The following findings are mainly contained. (a) ALA can only be ingested from food and then converted into eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the body. (b) This conversion process is relatively limited and affected by many factors such as dose, gender, and disease. (c) Pharmacological research shows that ALA has the anti-metabolic syndrome, anticancer, antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, neuroprotection, and regulation of the intestinal flora properties. (d) There are the most studies that prove ALA has anti-metabolic syndrome effects, including experimental studies and clinical trials. (e) The therapeutic effect of ALA will be affected by the dosage. In short, ALA is expected to treat many diseases, but further high quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of ALA.

Oxidized LDL induces procoagulant profiles by increasing lysophosphatidylcholine levels, lysophosphatidylethanolamine levels, and Lp-PLA2 activity in borderline hypercholesterolemia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The increased risk of cardiovascular disease under hypercholesterolemia is due to associations between oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) and between ox-LDL and coagulant profiles. We investigated the impact of different ox-LDL levels on coagulation time and plasma metabolomes in subjects with borderline hypercholesterolemia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One hundred thirty-one subjects with borderline hypercholesterolemia (serum cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL) were divided into low ox-LDL (n = 66) and high ox-LDL (n = 65) groups. After adjusting for confounding factors, the high ox-LDL group exhibited a significantly decreased activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) and increased Lp-PLA₂ activity. Compared to the low ox-LDL group, the high ox-LDL group exhibited significantly increased intensities of 17 lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs) and 7 lysophosphatidylethanolamines (lysoPEs). Ox-LDL was inversely correlated with aPTT and PT and positively correlated with Lp-PLA₂ activity. Positive correlations were also found among ox-LDL, Lp-PLA₂ activity, lysoPCs, and lysoPEs. LysoPCs and lysoPEs were inversely correlated with PT and aPTT. The identified plasma metabolites, including amino acids, fatty acid amides, acylcarnitines, and lysophospholipids, were significantly upregulated in the high ox-LDL group.

CONCLUSION

High ox-LDL levels may be involved in the development of a procoagulant state in subjects with borderline hypercholesterolemia by increasing Lp-PLA₂ activity and lysoPC and lysoPE levels.

Resveratrol Treatment Is Associated with Lipid Regulation and Inhibition of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in Rabbits Fed a High-Fat Diet

The effects of resveratrol on various conditions have been widely studied previously. This paper aimed to investigate the influence of resveratrol on atherosclerosis (AS). Twenty-four New Zealand male rabbits were randomly and equally assigned to the normal diet group (NDG), fat diet group (FDG), and fat diet with resveratrol group (80 mg/kg/d, RFG). Biochemical indicators from blood samples were analyzed at baseline and 3 months to investigate the effects of resveratrol on blood lipid, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), liver, and renal function. The indicators including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (CREA), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and Lp-PLA2. At 3 months, arteries were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to study the influence of resveratrol on the aortic intima, smooth muscle layer, and the intima/media ratio. Comparisons of weight, ALT, AST, CREA, TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and Lp-PLA2 among the three groups showed no significant difference at baseline. However, at the end of 3 months, significant differences were observed in AST, CREA, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and Lp-PLA2 between the three groups (P < 0.05). In pairwise comparison, CREA, TC, LDL-C, and Lp-PLA2 had significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the AST and HDL-C levels between RFG and NDG groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the HDL-C levels were also significantly different between the FDG and NDG groups (P < 0.01). The histologic analysis also showed that the thickness of the aortic intima and the ratio of the intima and aortic tunica media (P < 0.05) significantly decreased in RFG compared to FDG. Resveratrol may have an antiatherosclerosis effect on a rabbit model of AS.

Elevated Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Independently Affects Age-Related Increases in Systolic Blood Pressure: A Nested Case-Control Study in a Prospective Korean Cohort

Inflammatory markers are susceptible to changes over time. Thus, we observed changes in inflammatory markers correlating with age-related increases in blood pressure (BP) through a prospective study. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in inflammatory markers that correlate with age-related increases in BP. The study included 1,500 nondiabetic and normotensive healthy subjects at baseline. Of these, 121 individuals who developed hypertension (defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) after 2 years formed the hypertension group. For each incident hypertension case, 2 age- and sex-matched control subjects were selected among those who did not develop hypertension (control group, n = 242). After baseline adjustment, the hypertension group exhibited greater increases in body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic BP, triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose, Lp-PLA₂ activity, and urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F_2α (8-epi-PGF_2α ) levels compared to the control group. In the hypertension group, changes in (Δ) systolic BP correlated positively with Δ Lp-PLA₂ activity, which correlated positively with Δ low-density lipoprotein (LDL-) cholesterol and Δ urinary 8-epi-PGF_2α levels. Moreover, multiple linear regression revealed baseline systolic BP and Δ Lp-PLA₂ activity to be independent predictors of Δ systolic BP in the hypertension group. Our results suggest that age-related increases in systolic BP may correlate strongly with elevated Lp-PLA₂ activity and that Lp-PLA₂ can be considered a biomarker for systolic BP elevation.

The Beneficial Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Lp-PLA2 Mass and Its Distribution between HDL and apoB-Containing Lipoproteins in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a new specific vascular inflammation biomarker that is carried by the lipoproteins in the blood and plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Increased Lp-PLA2 levels and impaired Lp-PLA2 distribution across high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and non-HDL lipoproteins have been reported in diabetic patients, which is associated with the increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA), as an antioxidant with potential cardioprotective properties, on the Lp-PLA2 mass and its distribution in diabetic patients. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, seventy diabetic patients were randomly allocated to ALA (1200 mg ALA as two 600 mg capsules/day) and placebo (two maltodextrin capsules/day) groups. The serum levels of total Lp-PLA2 mass, HDL-Lp-PLA2, oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL), apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1), lipid profiles, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and insulin were measured, and apolipoprotein B- (apoB-) associated Lp-PLA2 and homeostasis model of assessment index (HOMA-IR) were calculated at the baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. ALA significantly decreased the ox-LDL, total Lp-PLA2 mass, apoB-associated Lp-PLA2, and percent of apoB-associated Lp-PLA2 and triglyceride and increased the percent of HDL-Lp-PLA2 compared with the placebo group but had no significant effect on HDL-Lp-PLA2 mass, apo A1, lipid profiles, and glycemic indices. There was a positive correlation between the reduction in the ox-LDL level and total Lp-PLA2 mass in the ALA group. In conclusion, ALA may decrease the CVD risk by reducing the ox-LDL and Lp-PLA2 mass and improving the Lp-PLA2 distribution among lipoproteins in type 2 diabetic patients.

Weighting approaches for a genetic risk score and an oxidative stress score for predicting the incidence of obesity

BACKGROUND

We aimed to predict the incidence of obesity in a Korean population using a genetic risk score (GRS) constructed with obesity-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) along with an oxidative stress score (OSS).

METHODS

A total of 9460 Korean subjects and 356 974 SNPs were included. The GRS was constructed using three significant obesity-related SNP loci, and the OSS was calculated with three reliable oxidative stress biomarkers.

RESULTS

The GRS showed a more significant association with increased obesity (OR = 2.879) than did individual SNPs after adjusting for age and sex. Three oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and 8-epi-prostaglandin F_2α , showed significantly high levels in the obese group. The OSS, which was the sum of each oxidative stress biomarker score, showed a markedly high association with the incidence of obesity, with an OR of 3.213. Based on the results of the regression tests and a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, we found that HOMA-IR, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), the GRS, and the OSS were the most relevant factors for the increased risk of obesity and were significantly associated with the incidence of obesity. The area under the ROC curve was improved when the GRS was added to the model (from 74.2% to 75.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

We first identified that subjects with an obesity GRS and a high OSS might have a higher risk of obesity. Our findings and weighting approaches were effective in predicting the incidence of obesity; furthermore, the GRS is a relevant factor that significantly predicts the risk of obesity.

Fatty acid composition and quality properties of chicken sausage formulated with pre-emulsified perilla-canola oil as an animal fat replacer

The potential use of an oil in water (o/w) emulsion made from perilla and canola oil in chicken sausage as an animal fat replacer was assessed. The (o/w) emulsion was made from 50% (wt/wt) perilla-canola oil mixture in a 30:70 ratio, 3.20% (wt/wt) polyglycerol polyricinoleate, 4.48% (wt/wt) soy protein isolate, 14% (wt/wt) inulin, and 28.32% (wt/wt) water. The sausages were manufactured with 60% (wt/wt) ground chicken breast, 20% (wt/wt) fat (beef tallow as a control), and 20% (wt/wt) ice water. Full replacement of animal fat with a perilla-canola oil (o/w) emulsion reduced the fat content and estimated calories but increased the moisture, protein, ash, and carbohydrate content. The proportion of α-linolenic acid (C18:3n3) was increased when animal fat was replaced with either a perilla-canola oil mixture or pre-emulsified perilla-canola oil, resulting in a lower n6 to n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio than the control. The perilla-canola oil (o/w) emulsion improved emulsion stability and minimized cooking loss during sausage manufacturing. Higher L* value (lightness) and whiteness were observed in the sausages formulated with the perilla-canola oil mixture, followed by the pre-emulsified perilla-canola oil and the control. The perilla-canola oil (o/w) emulsion also increased the hardness but maintained an acceptable appearance, flavor, and overall impression similar to the control. The shelf life could be extended by vacuum packing and storing the cooked sausages formulated with a perilla-canola oil (o/w) emulsion for 30 D at 2 ± 1°C. Pre-emulsified perilla-canola oil could be used to replace animal fat in reduced-fat chicken sausage manufacture.

The effects of nattokinase supplementation on collagen–epinephrine closure time, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in nondiabetic and hypercholesterolemic subjects

For 8 weeks, individuals who consumed nattokinase, considered one of the most active functional ingredients found in natto, showed improved hemostatic factors.

Associations among FADS1 rs174547, eicosapentaenoic acid/arachidonic acid ratio, and arterial stiffness in overweight subjects

We aimed to evaluate the longitudinal interaction effects between the minor allele of FADS1 rs174547 and overweight on n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Plasma PUFA levels were measured via GC-MS, and arterial stiffness was determined as brachial-ankle PWV (ba-PWV) at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 3 years. The FADS1 rs174547 T > C genotype was analyzed. At 3-years of follow-up, after adjustment for age, sex, smoking and drinking, there were interaction effects between the FADS1 rs174547 T > C genotype and baseline BMI on the changes (from baseline) in plasma arachidonic acid (AA) levels, in the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/AA ratio, and in ba-PWV (p for interaction = 0.036, 0.022, and 0.001, respectively). There were smaller increases in AA levels from baseline among normal-weight C allele carriers (n = 112) and overweight TT subjects (n = 47) than among normal-weight TT subjects (n = 91). Overweight C allele carriers (n = 37) showed greater reductions in the plasma EPA/AA ratio and greater increases in ba-PWV than the 3 other populations studied. The minor allele of the FADS1 rs174547 polymorphism is associated with age-related decreases in the EPA/AA ratio and increases in ba-PWV among overweight subjects.

Effect of weight loss on circulating fatty acid profiles in overweight subjects with high visceral fat area: a 12-week randomized controlled trial

Background

Significant associations between visceral fat and alterations in plasma fatty acids have been identified in overweight individuals. However, there are scant data regarding the relationships of the visceral fat area (VFA) with the plasma fatty acid profiles and desaturase activities following weight loss. We investigated the effect of weight loss with mild calorie restriction on the circulating fatty acid profiles and desaturase activities in nondiabetic overweight subjects with high VFA.

Methods

Eighty overweight subjects with high VFA (L4 VFA ≥100 cm²) were randomized into the 12-week mild-calorie-restriction (300 kcal/day) or control groups.

Results

Comparison of the percent of body weight changes between groups revealed that the weight-loss group had greater reductions in body weight. The VFA decreased by 17.7 cm² from baseline in the weight-loss group (P < 0.001). At follow-up, the weight-loss group showed greater reductions in serum triglycerides, insulin, and HOMA-IR than the control group. Significantly greater reductions in total saturated fatty acids, palmitic acid, stearic acid, total monounsaturated fatty acids, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, eicosadienoic acid, and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid levels were detected in the weight-loss group compared with the control group after adjusting for baseline values. Following weight loss, C16 Δ9-desaturase activity was significantly decreased and Δ5-desaturase activity was significantly increased, and the changes were greater in the weight-loss group than in the control group.

Conclusions

The results suggest that mild weight loss improves abdominal obesity, overall fatty acid profiles, and desaturase activities; therefore, mild calorie restriction has potential health benefits related to obesity-related diseases in overweight subjects with high VFA.

Trial registration

NCT02992639. Retrospectively registered 11 December 2016.

Association between increased visceral fat area and alterations in plasma fatty acid profile in overweight subjects: a cross-sectional study

Background

Visceral fat accumulation in overweight status has been resulted in changes of fatty acid profiles. The fatty acids profiles can be altered by fatty acid desaturase; the activity of which is highly associated with obesity and other metabolic diseases. We hypothesized that fatty acid composition, desaturase activity, and accumulation of visceral fat are interrelated. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between increased visceral fat area and alterations in plasma fatty acid profile in overweight subjects with different amounts of visceral fat.

Methods

Healthy overweight subjects (25.0 kg/m² ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m², n=232) were classified into lower (T1), middle (T2), and upper tertiles (T3) according to L4 visceral fat area (T1: <71.8 cm², T2: 71.8 cm²–99.6 cm², T3: >99.6 cm²).

Results

The T3 group showed higher amounts of cis-10-heptadecenoic acid and activity of C16 Δ9-desaturase and C18 Δ9-desaturase and lower activity of Δ5-desaturase than the T1 group. Additionally, the T3 group showed higher amounts of saturated fatty acids, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, monounsaturated fatty acids, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, n-3 PUFAs, and docosapentaenoic acid than the T1 and T2 groups.

Conclusions

This study indicates that greater than a certain area (>99.6 cm²) of visceral fat is needed to observe altered levels of individual fatty acid species and desaturase activities. The results suggest that increased activity of C16 Δ9-desaturase and C18 Δ9-desaturase in parallel with decreased Δ5-desaturase activity may be a causative factor in disturbed fatty acid metabolism.

Impact of 8-week linoleic acid intake in soy oil on Lp-PLA2 activity in healthy adults

BACKGROUND

No intervention follow-up study has examined the association between plasma n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂), which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to determine whether the administration of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) in soy oil affected Lp-PLA₂ activity in healthy adults.

METHODS

Self-reported healthy participants (n = 150) were randomly assigned to three groups: a low LA group, in which 10 mL soy oil was replaced with one apple; a medium LA group, in which the typical food intake was maintained; and a high LA group, in which 1/3 cup of cooked refined rice was replaced with 9.9 g of soy oil capsules daily. Plasma fatty acids and Lp-PLA₂ activity were measured along with other CVD risk factors.

RESULTS

After 8 weeks of treatment, plasma LA levels decreased in the low LA group and increased in the high LA group. The high LA group showed greater increases in apolipoprotein B (apoB) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) than those in the low LA group. Plasma LA levels and Lp-PLA₂ activities demonstrated greater increases in the high LA group than those in the medium and low LA groups. Changes in plasma LA positively and independently correlated with changes in Lp-PLA₂ activity, which was negatively correlated with changes in collagen-epinephrine closure time (CEPI-CT).

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in plasma LA following intake of soy oil was independently associated with Lp-PLA₂ activity, which was also related to apoB, ox-LDL and CEPI-CT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrail.gov Identifier: NCT02753907, registered 25 April 2016 (retrospectively registered).

Effects of overweight and the PLA2G7 V279F polymorphism on the association of age with systolic blood pressure

This prospective study aimed to determine the effects of the persistence of overweight for three years and the PLA2G7 V279F polymorphism, as well as the interaction between these factors, on the association of age with blood pressure (BP). Healthy middle-aged subjects with normotensive BP were divided into the normal-weight and overweight groups. The PLA2G7 V279F genotype, BP, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were determined. Lp-PLA2 activity was lower in the F allele subjects (n = 111) than in those with the VV genotype (n = 389). The overweight individuals with the F allele had lower Lp-PLA2 activity and ox-LDL at both baseline and after three years and lower systolic and diastolic BP and LDL cholesterol after three years compared with those with the VV phenotype. After three years, the overweight subjects with the VV phenotype exhibited greater increases in Lp-PLA2 activity, systolic BP, and ox-LDL than those with the F allele and normal-weight subjects with the VV phenotype. A multivariate analysis revealed that the PLA2G7 V279F genotype, baseline BMI, changes in Lp-PLA2 activity and ox-LDL remained independently and positively associated with changes in systolic BP. The simultaneous presence of the PLA2G7 279VV genotype and persistence of overweight synergistically increases the risk for hypertension, whereas lower Lp-PLA2 activity in PLA2G7 279F allele carriers might offer certain protection against hypertension, even in individuals who have been overweight for over three years.

Associations among oxidative stress, Lp-PLA2 activity and arterial stiffness according to blood pressure status at a 3.5-year follow-up in subjects with prehypertension

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We aimed to determine changes in oxidative stress, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) activity and arterial stiffness in subjects with persistent prehypertensive symptoms during a 3.5-year follow-up period.

METHODS

We divided 254 subjects with prehypertension according to their blood pressure (BP) status at 3.5 years of follow-up into three groups: reversed normotensive, persistent prehypertensive and developed hypertensive group. BP, serum lipid profile, oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), Lp-PLA₂ activity and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) were measured at baseline and the 3.5-year follow-up.

RESULTS

The reversed normotensive group showed a significant reduction in average BP (14.7/10.1 mmHg), whereas the developed hypertensive group showed a significant increase in average BP (15.2/11.5 mmHg). The persistent prehypertensive group showed increases in serum lipid profiles, circulating levels of Lp-PLA₂ activity, ox-LDL and arterial stiffness as measured by ba-PWV at 3.5 years. The persistent prehypertensive and developed hypertensive groups showed greater increases in ox-LDL than the reversed normotensive group. The developed hypertensive group showed greater increases in Lp-PLA₂, 8-epi-PGF_2α, and ba-PWV than those observed in the reversed normotensive and persistent prehypertensive groups. In all subjects, changes (Δ) in systolic blood pressure (SBP) positively correlated with Δ Lp-PLA₂, Δ ox-LDL, Δ urinary 8-epi-PGF_2α and Δ ba-PWV.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that in persistent prehypertension, increased ox-LDL hydrolysis by Lp-PLA₂ enhances arterial stiffness without an age-related increase in BP.

Chemical Analysis of Dietary Constituents in Rosa roxburghii and Rosa sterilis Fruits

Both Rosa roxburghii and R. sterilis, belonging to the Rosaceae, are endemic species in Guizhou Province, China. The fruits of these two species are mixed-used as functional food in the region. Aiming to elucidate the phytochemical characteristics of R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits, the essential oils and constituents in a methanol extract have been analyzed and compared by GC-MS and UFLC/Q-TOF-MS, respectively. As a result, a total of 135 volatile compounds were identified by GC-MS and 91 components were different between R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits; a total of 59 compounds in methanol extracts were identified by UFLC/Q-TOF-MS, including 13 organic acids, 12 flavonoids, 11 triterpenes, nine amino acids, five phenylpropanoid derivatives, four condensed tannins, two stilbenes, two benzaldehyde derivatives and one benzoic acid derivative; and nine characteristic compounds were found between R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits. This systematic study plays an important role for R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits in the product development.