The (n-3) fatty acid dose, independent of the (n-6) to (n-3) fatty acid ratio, affects the plasma fatty acid profile of normal dogs.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the dose of (n-3) fatty acids (FA) administered, independent of the relative ratio of (n-6) to (n-3) FA in the food, influences plasma FA composition in dogs. Healthy female, geriatric beagles (7-10 y old) were fed foods containing (n-6) to (n-3) FA ratios of either 40.0:1 or 1.4:1 for 12 wk (study 1) or 36 wk (study 2). In study 3, beagles were fed food with the same 1:1 ratio of (n-6) to (n-3) FA, but with increasing concentrations of (n-6) and (n-3) FA. Plasma FA concentrations were measured after completing the feeding studies. In studies 1 and 2, dogs fed fish oil-enriched food with a high (n-3) FA concentration had higher plasma total (n-3) FA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations and lower plasma total (n-6) FA, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid concentrations than dogs fed corn oil-enriched food with a low (n-3) FA concentration (P < 0.001). Both inclusion of fish oil (P < 0.001) and increased food intake independent of treatment effects increased the plasma DHA (P = 0.05) concentration. Furthermore, constancy of the dose of (n-3) FA administered over long periods of time was necessary to maintain plasma levels of total (n-3) FA, EPA, and DHA. In study 3, up to certain dietary concentrations (6.3 g total (n-3) FA/kg food for DHA and 9.8 g total (n-3) FA/kg food for EPA), the dose of (n-3) FA administered, independent of the (n-6) to (n-3) FA ratio, determined the plasma (n-3) FA composition. Results from our studies indicate that approximately 175 mg DHA/(kg body weight . d) is required to attain maximum plasma levels of DHA.
Hall
Jean A
JA
Human Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Nutrition, School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA. jean.hall@oregonstate.edu
Picton
Rebecca A
RA
Skinner
Monica M
MM
Jewell
Dennis E
DE
Wander
Rosemary C
RC
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood
D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005395:Fish Oils; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D003314:Corn Oil; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid