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Quite a number of studies have examined the effects of fish oil supplementation on cognitive performance in different transgenic animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, inconsistent and controversial outcomes have been derived from these experiments. In order to investigate whether the beneficial effect of fish oil supplementation on cognition was dietary VE status associated, fish oil dietary intervention was carried out in transgenic APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice. Control mice (C57BL/6J mice) were fed a normal control diet. APP/PS1 mice were assigned to a normal control diet group and low VE diet + fish oil supplement, normal VE diet + fish oil supplement, and high VE diet + fish oil supplement groups, respectively. After 7 months of dietary intervention, we found that fish oil supplementation improved behavioral performance, alleviated brain beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaque burden, and attenuated the oxidative stress in APP/PS1 mice by increasing cortical GSH content and total antioxidant capacity, as well as by decreasing MDA level. Fish oil treatment increased cortical n-3 PUFA concentration and decreased n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in APP/PS1 mice. Fatty acid transporters, Nrf2 and downstream targets involved in cortical and hippocampal antioxidant system were also modulated by fish oil-supplemented diet. Our data demonstrate that fish oil supplementation exerts an enhanced modulatory effect on the antioxidant system and fatty acid concentrations in APP/PS1 mice fed on lowly or averagely concentrated level of VE-containing diet than in mice fed with VE-rich diet. The current data do support previous findings that already dictate the beneficial effect of n-3 PUFAs on cognitive function. Moreover, the cognition promoting effects of n-3 PUFAs may be dietary VE status related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: It is well known that high lipid and high energy diet is harmful to health. But the different effects of high lipid diet composed of either saturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acids have not been distinguished. Method: Eighteen pregnant C57BL/6j (22–25g) mice were randomly divided into three groups of six each and fed with chow or high lipid diet composed of either flaxseed oil (chow diet 84%, cholesterol 0.2%, flaxseed oil 15.8%) or lard fat (chow diet 84%, cholesterol 0.2%, lard fat 15.8%). After weaning, the offspring were fed the same diet as their mothers were fed during the experiment, and their spatial memory and learning ability were evaluated by Morris water maze when they were 8 weeks old. Next, the blood and tissues were sampled when they were 9 weeks old. Serum lipids were determined using kits, and brain fatty acids were measured using a gas chromatograph. Results: Compared to chow diet (control), high flaxseed oil diet (HFO) increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL-C) in the mothers but not in offspring; high lard fat diet (HLF) increased serum total cholesterol level (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level (LDL-C) both in mothers and offspring. Brain fatty acids profile was altered by HLF compared with chow diet. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids content were significantly lower in the HLF group than in the control group, but saturated fatty acids content were significantly higher in HLF group than those in control group. The changed fatty acids composition affected the spatial memory and learning ability of adult offspring. Conclusions: A long-term high lard diet increased offspring serum TC and LDL-C levels and affected the brain''s fatty acid composition, and memory and learning ability. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the brain may be correlated with serum cholesterol levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background and Objectives: To investigate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) with skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and function among the elderly in an urban area in northern China.Methods and Study Design: A total of 912 participants (316 men, 596 women) aged more than 60 years from 4 communities in Beijing were enrolled. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were measured through radioimmunoassay. SMM was assessed through bioelectrical impendence analysis, whereas skeletal muscle function was assessed through grip strength and 4-m regular gait speed measurements. On the basis of expert consensus of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, low muscle mass was defined as relative skeletal mass index (RSMI) <7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.7 kg/m2 for women. A noncondition logistical regression model was employed to explore the association between vitamin D and both muscle mass and function.Results: Serum 25(OH)D was positively associated with grip strength (β=0.16, SE=0.05). The upper quartile of 25(OH)D was negatively associated with loss of grip strength (OR=0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.48) in men but not in women. No significant associations were noted between 25(OH)D and appendicular skeletal muscle mass, RSMI, and gait speed.Conclusions: The present study demonstrated a positive association between vitamin D and skeletal muscle strength in elderly Chinese men but not women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns play a crucial role in preventing both diabetes and cognitive impairment., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 899 aging participants. The Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was used to evaluate dietary diversity. The physical activity (PA) levels were divided based on metabolic equivalents and weekly activity time. Individual PA levels were further re-scored and combined with DDS scores to obtain each participant's total score., Results: Regardless of T2DM status, individuals with MCI had lower DDS and plant-derived DDS compared to non-MCI individuals. Non-MCI subjects had higher total PA and DDS scores than MCI subjects. There were differences in the correlation between DDS or PA scores and blood glucose and MoCA scores among different groups. The subjects with high DDS levels showed a significantly decreased risk of MCI and T2DM + MCI. Those with a total PA and DDS score in Q4 showed a significantly decreased risk of MCI and T2DM + MCI compared to Q1., Conclusions: A diversified diet improved blood glucose levels and cognitive function. Elderly individuals with diverse diets and adequate PA had a reduced risk of developing T2DM and MCI.

Aims: The study was designed to explore the role of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) deficiency concomitant with dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) treatment on brain β-amyloid (Aβ) and lipid levels., Method: A 5-month dietary DHA intervention was conducted in ApoE-deficient (ApoE -/- ) mice and wild-type C57BL/6J (C57 wt) mice. The Morris water maze test was performed to assess the behaviour of the animals. The cortical contents of soluble Aβ 1-40 and Aβ 1-42 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cortical fatty acid levels were detected by gas chromatography. Gene and protein expression of molecules associated with cerebral Aβ and lipid metabolism were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot and histological methods., Results: DHA treatment increased the content of cortical DHA and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) but decreased the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs in ApoE -/- mice; whereas the content of cortical DHA and n-3 PUFAs in C57 wt mice remained unchanged after DHA treatment. Cerebral Fabp5 and Cd36 gene expression were significantly downregulated in DHA-fed C57 wt mice; cerebral Cd36 and Scarb1 gene expression were significantly upregulated, whereas Fabp5 gene expression was downregulated in DHA-fed ApoE -/- mice. In comparison with C57 wt mice, the content of cortical soluble Aβ 1-42 , total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased, whereas the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased in ApoE -/- mice. Interestingly, these differences were significantly reversed by DHA dietary treatment., Conclusion: DHA intervention has discrepant impacts on cerebral lipids, fatty acid transporter expression and soluble Aβ levels in ApoE -/- and C57 wt mice, suggesting the modifying role of ApoE status on the responses of cerebral lipids and Aβ metabolism to DHA treatment., (© 2022 British Neuropathological Society.)