Supplementing the eating regimen with camelina oil wealthy in alpha-linolenic acid, or with sunflower oil wealthy in linoleic acid altered the concentrations of the metabolites of those fatty acids within the physique; nevertheless, the adjustments have been depending on the research individuals’ FADS1 genotype. The research was carried out amongst carriers of two totally different FADS1 genotypes.

“Camelina oil elevated the plasma focus of eicosapentaenoic acid produced from alpha-linolenic acid in solely one of many genotypes studied,” says Researcher and first creator Topi Meuronen of the College of Jap Finland.

Each eating regimen and genes have been discovered to impact the concentrations of various fatty acids within the physique. The FADS1 gene regulates the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the FADS1 genotype has beforehand been related to glucose and lipid metabolism issues, and with the chance of sort 2 diabetes.

Linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are important fatty acids not produced by the human physique, i.e., they should be obtained from meals. Linoleic acid is the most typical dietary fatty acid within the omega-6 household. Alpha-linolenic acid, alternatively, belongs to the household of omega-3 fatty acids. Various concentrations of each are present in vegetable oils, seeds and nuts. Of vegetable oils, sunflower oil is especially wealthy in linoleic acid. Camelina oil and linseed oils, alternatively, are wealthy in alpha-linolenic acid.

Excessive consumption and plasma focus of linoleic acid has been related to, e.g., a decrease danger of sort 2 diabetes and heart problems, however the affiliation of alpha-linolenic acid stays unclear. As metabolites of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, the physique produces lipid mediators that are vital, however a few of them additionally pro-inflammatory.

Within the new research, the researchers explored whether or not rs174550 level mutations within the FADS1 gene modify the impact of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid on the composition of fatty acids in plasma, and the concentrations of lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids. Carriers of two totally different FADS1 genotypes have been recruited from amongst males collaborating within the Metabolic Syndrome in Males research, METSIM. They supplemented their eating regimen with 30-50 ml of camelina oil or sunflower oil day by day for eight weeks.

“Our analysis design, i.e., recruiting topics on the idea of their genetic background, has confirmed efficient in investigating the interactions between eating regimen and genes,” Postdoctoral Researcher Maria Lankinen of the College of Jap Finland says.

The physique can produce eicosapentaenoic acid from alpha-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid from linoleic acid, for instance. These lengthy chain fatty acids, and lipid mediators produced from them, are concerned in lots of features within the physique, similar to inflammatory response and vascular perform.

The research confirmed that the FADS1 genotype performs a serious position in, for instance, how effectively important fatty acids are transformed to arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. The FADS1 genotype additionally affected the concentrations of metabolites derived from them.

The usage of camelina oil wealthy in alpha-linolenic acid elevated the focus of eicosapentaenoic acid and lipid mediators derived from it in solely one of many genotypes studied. In distinction, using sunflower oil wealthy in linoleic acid didn’t improve the focus of arachidonic acid or its derived lipid mediators in carriers of both genotype.

“The adjustments we noticed within the plasma focus of eicosapentaenoic acid have been on the identical degree as in our earlier research, the place folks ate fatty fish containing eicosapentaenoic acid. Nonetheless, an attention-grabbing commentary is that when camelina oil was used, the adjustments occurred solely in one of many genotypes studied,” says Meuronen.

In keeping with the researchers, the outcomes give trigger to contemplate whether or not it’s attainable to present more and more individualised pointers on the consumption of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid. Nonetheless, additional analysis is required.

The research was carried out in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet, and the findings have been printed in Molecular Vitamin and Meals Analysis.