Search Results (1,288)

Background/Objectives: Prospective studies of omega-3 supplementation during breast cancer chemotherapy differ in intervention composition, co-supplementation, dose, treatment setting, and outcomes. We summarized and critically appraised interventions comprising DHA alone, EPA + DHA, EPA + DHA + GLA, or EPA + DHA with or without vitamin D, stratified by intervention composition and outcome domain. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library/CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Embase were last searched on 8 July 2026, supplemented by citation searching. Eligible studies prospectively administered EPA and/or DHA during chemotherapy and reported inflammatory/biological, nutritional/functional, quality-of-life, treatment-related, anticancer-response, or safety outcomes. Active co-supplementation was analyzed separately. Owing to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively; risk of bias and outcome-specific certainty were assessed using RoB 2-informed and GRADE approaches. Results: Fourteen reports representing ten prospective interventional trials were included. No eligible EPA-only trial was found. Interventions comprised EPA + DHA/fish oil without another active nutrient, DHA alone, EPA + DHA plus gamma-linolenic acid, and a factorial trial of EPA + DHA with or without vitamin D. One trial reported lower paclitaxel-induced neuropathy, whereas another found no benefit for paclitaxel-associated acute pain or neuropathic symptoms. Biomarker, nutritional, functional, and quality-of-life findings were inconsistent and often derived from small trials, exploratory or compliance-restricted analyses, companion reports, or co-supplementation designs. No consistent improvement in treatment response or survival was demonstrated. Serious supplementation-related adverse events were not reported, although adverse-event reporting varied. Certainty was low for safety and very low for efficacy-related domains. Conclusions: Current evidence is preliminary. The evaluated interventions appeared generally tolerated, but independent clinical efficacy of DHA alone, EPA + DHA without another active nutrient, EPA + DHA + GLA, or EPA + DHA with or without vitamin D during breast cancer chemotherapy remains unproven. Full article

Fueled by the rapid growth of the global companion animal industry, the development of nutritional additives for improving canine intestinal health has emerged as a prominent research area in pet nutrition. Excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation triggers severe oxidative stress, inducing intestinal inflammation, abnormal epithelial senescence, and tight junction destruction to damage intestinal mucosal integrity. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) have proven antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potency, yet divergent functions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on canine ileal epithelial cells (cIECs) remain unclear. Here, an H₂O₂-stimulated oxidative injury model was built to compare their protective capacity. Under all equivalent gradient concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 10 μM in this experiment, Equal-dose DHA failed to alleviate cell damage, while EPA effectively rescued impaired cIEC viability. Biochemical tests showed EPA lowered malondialdehyde and boosted key antioxidant enzyme activities. Transcriptomics confirmed EPA suppressed overactivated TNF-α/IFN-γ inflammatory and senescence pathways. Western blot verified EPA downregulated p-Chk1, p53, p57, and p73 and restored telomere-protective and tight junction proteins. In summary, EPA protects cIECs via antioxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-senescence, supporting its development as a promising functional feed additive for canine intestinal care. Full article

This study characterized lipid accumulation in force-fed mule duck foie gras (fatty liver) and evaluated its association with hepatic physiological status. Thirty-six healthy male mule ducks (67 ± 2 days of age) were randomly assigned to a control group (CON) or force-fed group (O-F). Serum and liver samples were collected for further analysis on days 6, 12, and 18. Compared with the CON group, force-feeding markedly increased liver weight on days 6, 12, and 18, with average increases of 100 g, 200 g, and 430 g, respectively (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in hepatic oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and biochemical indicators of liver injury on days 6, 12, and 18 between the control and force-fed groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, both untargeted lipidomic Orthogonal Partial Least Squares—Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and targeted fatty acid analysis revealed clear metabolic separation between the two groups on day 18. Compared with CON, total hepatic unsaturated fatty acids increased by 60.7% in O-F ducks on day 18 (p < 0.01), with oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid increasing by approximately 400%, 100%, 300%, and 35%, respectively (p < 0.01). These results indicate that short-term force-feeding alters the hepatic fatty acid profile through lipid accumulation, while circulating markers of liver injury remain unaffected. Full article

This study evaluated the use of finishing diets to reduce fish oil (FO) inclusion in European sea bass feeds while preserving fillet quality and n-3 fatty acid content. Fish (197 g) were fed for 25 weeks with a control FO diet, based on 9% FO and 6% plant oil, or diets where 6% FO was replaced by rapeseed oil (RO) or microalgae (AO; Nannochloropsis sp. and Schizochytrium sp.). After 13 weeks, 2 groups of fish fed the RO diet were switched to the FO or AO finishing diets for the final 12 weeks. Growth, feed efficiency, body composition, and health were unaffected by dietary treatments. However, long-term RO feeding reduced eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and increased monounsaturated and n-6 fatty acids compared to fish fed AO or FO. A 12-wk FO finishing diets shifted morphometric traits, fatty acid profiles, liver histology, and overall fish quality of fish previously fed with RO toward those of fish continuously fed FO, whereas the AO finishing diet produced a smaller shift. Longer finishing periods may further enhance fillet quality when using microalgae-based oils. Full article

Pollen limitation compromises honey bee health and pollination services, and existing pollen substitutes are typically formulated around crude protein content while lacking the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids naturally present in pollen and bee-collected re-sources. To address both protein and fatty acid gaps in current substitutes, this study evaluated marine-protein and insect-larvae-based diets. We assessed how formulations using Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) and insect larvae affect the nutrition, physiology, longevity, and gut microbiota of Apis mellifera L. Newly emerged bees were fed for 35 days on: sugar syrup (negative control), sugar syrup and natural pollen (positive control), or four experimental diets: seabass-based (SB), or SB supplemented with meal-worm (SBM), or wax moth (SBW), or black soldier fly (SBB). Experimental diets (12.48–15.59% crude protein, vs. 17.24% in natural pollen) while SB supplied eicosapentaenoic acid (39.3–53.3 mg/100 g) and docosahexaenoic acid (37.2–52.3 mg/100 g), and SBB was additionally rich in lauric acid (604.3 mg/100 g). SBB- and SBM-fed bees exhibited the greatest hypopharyngeal gland development (0.123 mm and 0.115 mm, respectively, vs. 0.060 mm in sugar-only controls), with no significant difference from SB alone. All SB-based diets supported significantly greater survival than the sugar-only control (log-rank p < 0.0001) and did not differ significantly from the natural pollen treatment with SBB showing the highest and most consistent day-35 survival (81.1%). All sea-bass-based diets significantly altered the gut microbial community structure, promoting short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-associated bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Blautia wexlerae. This enrichment may reflect not only the omega-3 and lauric acid content of the diets but also the presence of substrates that can be utilized by gut microbes, which may exert prebiotic-like effects by favoring SCFA-producing bacteria. These results demonstrate that marine and insect-derived nutrients can supply protein while also providing beneficial lipids and microbially utilizable substrates that promote the enrichment of beneficial SCFA-associated bacteria not typically dominant in the honey bee gut. These enriched diets, particularly SBB, are promising candidates war-ranting further evaluation at the colony and field levels. Full article

Iron supplementation in patients with tuberculosis remains a controversial issue due to the complex role of iron in the host immune response and in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Although supplementation may be beneficial for some patients with persistent iron deficiency, the available evidence does not support its routine use. The efficacy and safety of such an intervention appear to depend, among other factors, on the activity of the inflammatory process, the severity of iron metabolism disturbances, and the timing of supplementation initiation. Current evidence highlights the need for an individualized assessment of iron status and for further research to establish clear clinical recommendations. At the same time, growing interest has been directed toward the role of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as potential modulators of immune and inflammatory responses in tuberculosis. EPA and DHA may influence immune cell function, cytokine production, and the formation of lipid mediators involved in the resolution of inflammation. Experimental evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the severity of inflammation and infection-associated anemia; however, their effectiveness may depend on baseline fatty acid status, the stage of disease, and interactions with other nutrients, including iron. Human clinical evidence remains very limited and is currently based mainly on one small intervention study, therefore, clinical claims regarding omega-3 fatty acids supplementation should be interpreted cautiously and should not be understood as a recommendation for routine use. The aim of this review is to discuss the significance of iron metabolism and omega-3 fatty acids in tuberculosis, with particular emphasis on their roles in the regulation of inflammation, immune responses, anemia, and potential nutritional support. Current evidence underscores the need for individualized nutritional interventions and further clinical research to determine the safety, efficacy, and optimal timing of iron and omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in patients with tuberculosis. Full article

Omega-3-fortified foods sit at the interface of lipid science, food technology, and prevention-oriented nutrition. The aim of this narrative review is to define practical criteria for evaluating whether fortified foods can deliver physiologically relevant eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) rather than merely declare omega-3 addition. This review focuses on fish oils, fish-processing by-product oils, single-cell oils, and encapsulated or emulsified delivery systems used in dairy products, bakery products, beverages, spreads, eggs, infant and maternal foods, nutrition bars, and related functional foods. It integrates evidence on raw material composition, refining, oxidative stability, food-matrix compatibility, retained dose during shelf life, bioavailability, biomarker response, health benefits, safety concerns, and regulatory communication. The proposed source-to-status quality-by-design framework emphasizes that applied value depends on traceable source selection, analytical quality control, matrix-specific protection, end-of-shelf-life verification, transparent dose labeling, and claims that remain proportional to evidence. Ordinary low-dose fortified foods should not be presented as equivalents of prescription omega-3 products or as general disease-prevention tools. Their defensible role is status-oriented dietary optimization in populations with low EPA/DHA intake. Full article

Background/Objectives: Discrimination between iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and anemia of inflammation (AI), the major causes of anemia, remains a challenge and novel biomarkers are needed. This prospective study characterizes metabolomic changes in patients with anemia, compares IDA and AI, and evaluates the ability of metabolomic profiling to categorize otherwise unclassifiable anemia (UA) cases. Methods: In the single-center cross-sectional study, patients with anemia were classified as IDA, AI, or their combination (IDA + AI) according to traditional iron biomarkers. Targeted metabolomic analysis was conducted with tandem mass spectrometry using the MxP^® Quant 500 kit, with 617 individual metabolites and 227 calculated parameters in the final analysis. Results: The final cohort included 70 patients with anemia and 27 controls. The concentrations of six metabolites and six calculated parameters were significantly different in patients with anemia compared to controls. Anemia was associated with decreased concentrations of several polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing triglycerides (n = 3) and phosphatidylcholines (n = 2), as well as with increased asparagine/aspartate and docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio. Multivariate analysis using only metabolomic data differentiated between IDA and AI with a general classification accuracy of 88%. Unclassifiable anemia samples were reclassified mostly as IDA (n = 11) or IDA + AI (n = 6), with one sample reclassified as AI. Conclusions: Metabolomic markers of PUFAs differ between patients with anemia and controls, indicating possible alterations in lipid metabolism. Our preliminary findings suggest that metabolomic data may be capable of distinguishing between IDA and AI. However, owing to several limitations of the current study, the potential utility of metabolome-based approaches should be confirmed in independent validation studies. Full article

Microalgae are bioresources with significant potential within a sustainable, circular, bio-economy. However, high production costs have limited the widespread use of algae biomass. This study aimed to develop a multi-product biorefinery for Nannochloropsis oceanica that generates multiple revenue streams from the biomass, thereby enhancing the economic viability of algal production. The effectiveness of cell wall disruption using high-pressure homogenization and enzymatic hydrolysis was evaluated. Enzymatic hydrolysis solubilized nearly half (48.2 ± 1.5%) of the dry cell weight, compared to only 27.3 ± 3.2% with high-pressure homogenization, resulting in more concentrated water-soluble fractions and significantly higher protein extraction yields. Lipid extracts obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis had higher lipid (72.0 ± 5.3% w/w) and eicosapentaenoic acid (28.1 ± 6.9% w/w) contents than those from high-pressure homogenization (38.8 ± 6.1% w/w lipids; 9.1 ± 0.6% w/w eicosapentaenoic acid), despite similar lipid extraction yields (around 30%). Increasing the ethanol volumetric ratio from 58% to 75% v/v significantly improved lipid extraction yields (57.4 ± 3.1%) in the enzymatic hydrolysis-based biorefinery, with even higher yields observed upon scaling up (70.1%). All fractions, including lipid extracts, exhibited a balanced essential amino acid profile that exceeded the WHO/FAO/UNU-recommended values. A preliminary economic analysis indicated that lipid production was more cost-effective when cells were permeabilized by enzymatic hydrolysis than by high-pressure homogenization. Full article

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a promising biorefinery feedstock because it contains high-value compounds such as fucoxanthin and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), alongside other pigments, proteins, carbohydrates, and polyphenolics. However, downstream processing often targets single compounds, leaving possible co-products underutilised, thus limiting biomass valorisation. This study developed a multiproduct workflow for wet, disrupted P. tricornutum biomass by coupling solid–liquid–liquid extraction (SLLE) with centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). The SLLE step used an ethyl acetate/n-butanol/water solvent system (3:2:5, v/v/v) and was optimised with respect to biomass loading and extraction time, yielding lipophilic, aqueous, interfacial, and insoluble primary fractions. Biomass content was the dominant factor governing partitioning into these fractions and target-compound recovery, whereas extraction time had a secondary influence. Under process-oriented optimised conditions of 1.3 h and 4.25% biomass content, fucoxanthin and EPA recoveries reached 91.3% and 70%, respectively. The lipophilic fraction was refined further by two-stage CPC, yielding high-purity fucoxanthin (99.4 ± 1.0%) and EPA-enriched glycerolipids (up to 99.9 ± 0.5%). Additionally, ten further fractions were obtained, including carotenoid-containing, chlorophyll, polyphenolic, protein-rich, and carbohydrate-rich fractions in the whole process. Overall, this twelve-fraction workflow supports the transition toward a scalable P. tricornutum biorefinery and provides a basis for assessing transferability to other microalgae. Full article

Jasmonates are lipid-derived phytohormones that regulate plant development and defense across the green lineage. Thus, understanding the intricacies of jasmonate biosynthesis and signaling is of paramount importance to improve crop yields and food safety. For the last 40 years, the canonical jasmonate biosynthetic pathway has been thoroughly dissected in angiosperms; however, only recent efforts have started to decode the alternative jasmonate biosynthetic networks that operate in bryophytes. In the nonvascular model Marchantia polymorpha, a cis-to-iso isomerization constitutes a key step in the formation of dn-iso-OPDA and Δ⁴-dn-iso-OPDA, the bioactive jasmonates recognized by a conserved COI1/JAZ co-receptor complex. Their biosynthesis depends on a uniquely expanded fatty acid repertoire that includes, alongside the canonical C₁₆ and C₁₈ omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in angiosperms, substantial pools of eicosanoids such as arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, essentially absent from flowering plants. Here we trace the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway in bryophytes step-by-step, from PUFA precursors production through lipoxygenase oxygenation and downstream reactions to the processing and catabolic modifications of bioactive compounds. By integrating current knowledge across bryophyte lineages, we identify mechanistic parallels and divergences relative to angiosperms, highlight key unresolved questions, and propose future directions for the field. Deciphering jasmonate biosynthesis in bryophytes is essential for reconstructing the evolutionary origins of jasmonate signaling and understanding how this pathway contributed to the successful colonization of land by plants. Full article

Production system may affect meat quality and muscle metabolic characteristics in Tibetan sheep. In this study, the biceps femoris muscles of twelve 3-year-old Tibetan sheep with similar body weights were used as experimental materials during a 6-month experimental period. The housed group (n = 6) was defined as the control group (C group), whereas the grazing group (n = 6) was defined as the L group. Meat quality measurement, nutritional composition analysis, untargeted lipidomics, and amino acid metabolomics (AAM) were integrated to investigate the effects of contrasting grazing and house-feeding production systems on meat quality and metabolic characteristics in Tibetan sheep. The results showed that cooking loss and drip loss were significantly decreased, whereas water-holding capacity (WHC) was significantly increased in the L group. However, shear force was also increased, indicating that grazing and house-feeding systems were associated with differences in muscle WHC and shear force. The L group exhibited significant alterations in lipid composition and increased concentrations of several n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and increased levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), including α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), suggesting that grazing and house-feeding systems were associated with differences in the lipid nutritional profile of muscle. Lipidomic analysis showed that the differential lipids were mainly enriched in triacylglycerols (TGs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), and phosphatidylcholines (PCs), and several PUFA-containing TGs and membrane lipid molecules were closely associated with meat quality traits. AAM analysis showed that branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), including L-leucine and L-valine, as well as N,N-dimethylglycine, were upregulated in the L group, whereas kynurenine and 1-methyl-L-histidine were downregulated. These findings suggest that BCAA metabolism and tryptophan–kynurenine metabolism were associated with metabolic differences observed between production systems in muscle metabolic adaptation. However, amino acid metabolomics analysis revealed that no amino acid metabolites remained significant after FDR correction, and thus the observed pathway-level changes (e.g., BCAA metabolism and tryptophan–kynurenine pathway) should be interpreted as nominal and exploratory findings. Overall, the results indicate that feeding systems were associated with alterations in the lipid and amino acid metabolic profiles of the biceps femoris muscle in Tibetan sheep, which were further associated with differences in muscle WHC, shear force, lipid nutritional composition, and the profile of flavor precursors. This study provides a theoretical basis for optimizing plateau meat sheep production systems and developing high-quality Tibetan sheep meat products. Full article

Rice–crayfish co-culture is a dominant aquaculture mode in China, while the regional heterogeneity in crayfish nutritional quality remains insufficiently clarified. This study collected rice-field-cultured crayfish samples from six major producing provinces (Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Anhui) to systematically evaluate their meat yield, conventional nutritional components, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and mineral element contents. Significant regional differences were observed in all measured indicators. Jiangsu crayfish showed the highest meat yield (22.97% in females, 20.72% in males), crude protein (18.5%), and total amino acids (16.59 g/100 g). Jiangxi samples had the highest crude fat (0.7%), ash (1.5%), and calcium (1280 mg/kg). Anhui crayfish exhibited the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content (47.30%). Hubei recorded the highest total eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22.41%). Henan crayfish were highest in EPA (19.6%) and manganese (3.72 mg/kg), while Hunan samples had the highest iron (9.06 mg/kg). Valine was identified as the first limiting amino acid in all provinces, with secondary limiting amino acids varying regionally. Despite regional differences in specific nutritional indices, crayfish from all six provinces consistently exhibited high protein, low fat, balanced amino acid profiles, abundant unsaturated fatty acids, and rich essential minerals, with all measured nutritional mineral contents within national food safety limits. The findings provided empirical data and a scientific basis for crayfish quality evaluation, origin characteristic analysis, and targeted nutritional optimization of farming formulas, as well as for the differentiated development of regional crayfish industries. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Despite recent advances, current therapies offer little benefit, and AD remains a significant challenge. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have attracted attention for their neuroprotective effects primarily through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but also for their ability to influence membrane fluidity and neuronal function. DHA is the predominant omega-3 PUFA in nerve cell membranes and is critical for synaptic plasticity and cognitive function. Some evidence has demonstrated that marine omega-3 supplementation reduces Aβ deposition, modulates microglial activation, and prevents cognitive decline in animal models. Even with heterogeneous results, preclinical and clinical studies suggest that long-term DHA/EPA supplementation can improve cognitive function in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and reduce neuroinflammation markers. However, individual variability and brain bioavailability pose significant challenges. This review summarizes and discusses the current knowledge on the importance of PUFAs for human health, exploring novel mechanistic hypotheses, such as the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on brain iron homeostasis, the microbiota–gut–brain axis, the glymphatic system, and miRNAs. Furthermore, it focuses on the therapeutic potential of PUFAs in the treatment of AD and proposes future directions for translational research. Full article

Background: Type 2 inflammatory diseases are among the most common chronic inflammatory conditions in childhood and represent a growing global health burden. Increasing evidence suggests that early-life nutritional exposures may influence immune programming and allergic disease development. This Position Paper aims to summarize the current evidence regarding the immunomodulatory role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly omega-3 long-chain fatty acids, in the prevention of allergic diseases during early life. Methods: A scoping literature review and consensus process were conducted to map biological mechanisms and clinical evidence linking omega-3 PUFAs with allergic disease prevention. This document analyzed experimental, observational, and randomized controlled studies evaluating maternal prenatal/lactational omega-3 exposure. The clinical evidence was qualitatively appraised using study-design-specific Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools. Particular attention was given to immune modulation, inflammatory pathways, epithelial barrier function, gut microbiota interactions, and the ferroptosis–immune–metabolic axis. Results: Omega-3 PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects through multiple mechanisms, including specialized pro-resolving mediator production, regulation of T-helper cell responses, cytokine modulation, maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity, and microbiota interaction. Emerging evidence also supports their involvement in oxidative stress and ferroptosis regulation. Current clinical evidence, particularly from higher-quality prenatal randomized trials and evidence syntheses, suggests that adequate maternal omega-3 intake during pregnancy and lactation may reduce the risk of respiratory allergic outcomes, especially wheezing and asthma, in selected offspring. Conclusions: Adequate omega-3 PUFA intake, such as 2 g/die, during critical windows of immune maturation may represent a valuable strategy for the primary prevention of allergic diseases. Current evidence most strongly supports supplementation during pregnancy and lactation, particularly in populations with low dietary omega-3 intake or increased allergic risk. Omega-3 supplementation should be considered within a broader multifactorial preventive approach aimed at promoting immune tolerance and reducing the future burden of allergic diseases. Full article