title: Canned bluefin tuna, an in vitro cardioprotective functional food potentially safer than commercial fish oil based pharmaceutical formulations.
abstract: Commercial canned fish species typical in the Italian market were evaluated for their lipid profile. Bluefin tuna samples showed the highest content in omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) among the canned fish samples analyzed. Tests on H9C2 cardiomyocytes revealed that bluefin tuna n-3 PUFA may responsible for a significant cell protection against both physiological and doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress. Analogous tests performed by incubating cardiac cells with n-3 PUFA ethyl esters, of which most of fish oil pharmaceutical formulations (FOPF) are based, showed cytotoxicity at high doses. Our results highlighted that n-3 PUFA contents in a 50 g canned bluefin tuna portion would be almost equivalent to and potentially safer than those of 1 FOPF capsule (1000 mg)/die usually suggested for hyperlipidaemic subjects. Thus, Italian commercial canned bluefin tuna could be indicated as a functional food with potential health benefits for the prevention and care of cardiovascular disorders.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: giancarlo.tenore@unina.it.
authors: Gian Carlo
authors: GC
authors: Tenore
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Calabrese
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Ritieni
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo, 1, 84084 Salerno, Italy.
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Campiglia
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Giannetti
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors: Ettore
authors: E
authors: Novellino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005395:Fish Oils; D005511:Food Handling; D055951:Functional Food; D007558:Italy; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014413:Tuna
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005395:Fish Oils; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Bluefin tuna; Canned fish; Cardiomyocytes; Oxidative stress; n-3 PUFA