title: The effect of varying ratios of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid in the prevention and reversal of biochemical essential fatty acid deficiency in a murine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Essential fatty acids (EFA) are necessary for growth, development, and biological function, and must be acquired through the diet. While linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) have been considered the true EFAs, we previously demonstrated that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) taken together as the sole source of dietary fatty acids can prevent biochemical essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD). This study evaluates the effect of varying dietary ratios of DHA:AA in the prevention and reversal of biochemical EFAD in a murine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a murine model of EFAD, we provided mice with 2.1% of daily caloric intake in varying DHA:AA ratios (1:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 200:1, 100:0) for 19 days in association with a liquid high-carbohydrate fat-free diet to evaluate the effect on fatty acid profiles. In a second experiment, we evaluated the provision of varying DHA:AA ratios (20:1, 200:1, 100:0) on the reversal of biochemical EFAD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice provided with DHA and AA had no evidence of biochemical EFAD, regardless of the ratio (1:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 200:1, 100:0) administered. Biochemical EFAD was reversed with DHA:AA ratios of 20:1, 200:1, and 100:0 following 3 and 5 weeks of dietary provision, although the 20:1 ratio was most effective in the reversal and stabilization of the triene:tetraene ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Provision of DHA and AA, at 2.1% of daily caloric intake in varying ratios can prevent biochemical evidence of EFAD and hepatic steatosis over the short-term, with a ratio of 20:1 DHA:AA most effectively reversing EFAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and the Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA.
authors.forename: Hau D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Kalish
authors.forename: Vincent E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: de Meijer
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gura
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nose
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bistrian
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid