Similar eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid plasma levels achieved with fish oil or krill oil in a randomized double-blind four-week bioavailability study.

Background: Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3-PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) provide multiple health benefits for heart, brain and eyes. However, consumption of fatty fish, the main source of LC n-3-PUFAs is low in Western countries. Intakes of LC n-3-PUFA can be increased by taking dietary supplements, such as fish oil, algal oil, or krill oil.

Controlled formation of mono- and dihydroxy-resolvins from EPA and DHA using soybean 15-lipoxygenase.

Resolvins and protectins are important anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution compounds derived from the enzymatic oxidation of omega-3 fatty acids all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and all-cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We have developed a simple, controlled method to synthesize an array of resolvin and protectin analogs from fatty acid starting materials using soybean 15-lipoxygenase. The conditions were optimized for the production of both mono- and dihydroxy derivatives, with enzyme concentration and pH found to have a significant effect on the reaction products.

Quantitative determination of fatty acid compositions in micro-encapsulated fish-oil supplements using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

The research describes a rapid method for the determination of fatty acid (FA) contents in a micro-encapsulated fish-oil (μEFO) supplement by using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic technique and partial least square regression (PLSR) analysis. Using the ATR-FTIR technique, the μEFO powder samples can be directly analysed without any pre-treatment required, and our developed PLSR strategic approach based on the acquired spectral data led to production of a good linear calibration with R(2)=0.99.

Effect of chemical randomization on positional distribution and stability of omega-3 oil triacylglycerols.

Randomization has been commonly used to modify the chemical and physical properties of natural fats and oils. In this study, seal blubber oil (SBO) and menhaden oil (MHO) were modified through chemical randomization using sodium methoxide, and the effect on positional distribution of fatty acids was investigated using gas chromatography (GC) and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The effect of randomization on the stability of the original oils and their randomized counterparts was analyzed by comparing conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values after accelerated oxidation at 60 degrees C for 4 days.

Isolation of phosphorylated polysaccharides from algae: the immunostimulatory principle of Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

The major immunostimulatory principle in the hot aqueous extract of Chlorella pyrenoidosa has been isolated by a sequence of ethanol precipitation, precipitation with a cationic surfactant (CTAB), size exclusion chromatography, and anion exchange chromatography. A series of phosphorylated polysaccharides were obtained having different molecular masses but with similar structures. The higher molecular mass fractions showed considerable activity in the stimulation of mouse peritoneal macrophages to synthesize nitric oxide.