![]() |
|
|
Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 Canada
2To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hweiler{at}ms.umanitoba.ca.
Dietary (n-6) and (n-3) fatty acids have been implicated as important regulators of bone metabolism. The main objective of this research was to define the response of whole-body growth, fatty acid status and bone mass to a reduced dietary (n-6):(n-3) fatty acid ratio. A secondary objective was to determine whether there is an amount of fat x fatty acid ratio interaction for these outcomes. Piglets (n = 32) were randomized to 1 of 4 diets: group 1: [30 g fat/L + (n-6):(n-3) ratio 4.5:1]; group 2: [30 g fat/L + (n-6):(n-3) ratio 9.0:1]; group 3: [60 g fat/L + (n-6):(n-3) ratio 4.5:1]; and group 4: [60 g fat/L + (n-6):(n-3) ratio 9.0:1]. After 21 d, outcomes assessed included growth, fatty acid status and bone mass and metabolism. Growth and bone mass did not differ among the four groups nor did arachidonic acid (AA as g/100 g fatty acids) in plasma, adipose and brain. Piglets fed diets 1 and 3 with the lower (n-6):(n-3) ratio had lower liver AA (P < 0.001). Those fed diets 1 and 2 containing 30 g fat/L had lower docosahexaenoic acid (DHA as g/100 g fatty acids) in liver (P < 0.001), plasma (P = 0.019) and adipose tissue (P = 0.045). However, piglets fed diets 1 and 3 had higher (P < 0.001) brain DHA than those fed diets with a higher (n-6):(n-3) ratio. Higher plasma DHA was associated with less bone resorption (r = -0.44, P = 0.01). Therefore, elevation of dietary (n-3) fatty acids supports growth and fatty acid status while not compromising bone mass. The results may be of relevance to the nutritional management of preterm infants whose DHA status is often too low and bone resorption too high.
KEY WORDS: essential fatty acids piglets bone growth
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
H. T. Baird, D. L. Eggett, and S. Fullmer Varying Ratios of Omega-6:Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Pre-and Postmortem Bone Mineral Density, Bone Ash, and Bone Breaking Strength of Laying Chickens Poult. Sci., February 1, 2008; 87(2): 323 - 328. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. C. Poulsen, P. J. Moughan, and M. C. Kruger Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and the Regulation of Bone Metabolism Experimental Biology and Medicine, November 1, 2007; 232(10): 1275 - 1288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Farmer, H. V. Petit, H. Weiler, and A. V. Capuco Effects of dietary supplementation with flax during prepuberty on fatty acid profile, mammogenesis, and bone resorption in gilts J Anim Sci, July 1, 2007; 85(7): 1675 - 1686. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Hogstrom, P. Nordstrom, and A. Nordstrom n 3 Fatty acids are positively associated with peak bone mineral density and bone accrual in healthy men: the NO2 Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2007; 85(3): 803 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. A Weiss, E. Barrett-Connor, and D. von Muhlen Ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids and bone mineral density in older adults: the Rancho Bernardo Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2005; 81(4): 934 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. C. Mollard, M. E. Gillam, T. M. Wood, C. G. Taylor, and H. A. Weiler (n-3) Fatty Acids Reduce the Release of Prostaglandin E2 from Bone but Do Not Affect Bone Mass in Obese (fa/fa) and Lean Zucker Rats J. Nutr., March 1, 2005; 135(3): 499 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. L Blanaru, J. R Kohut, S. C Fitzpatrick-Wong, and H. A Weiler Dose response of bone mass to dietary arachidonic acid in piglets fed cow milk-based formula Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2004; 79(1): 139 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||