Combined fish oil and astaxanthin supplementation modulates rat lymphocyte function

• Published in: European journal of nutrition 2012-09, Vol.51 (6), p.707-718
• Main Authors: Otton, Rosemari, Marin, Douglas Popp, Bolin, Anaysa Paola, de Cássia Santos Macedo, Rita, Campoio, Thais Regina, Fineto, Claudio, Guerra, Beatriz Alves, Leite, José Roberto, Barros, Marcelo Paes, Mattei, Rita
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium Signaling - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cytokines - metabolism; Dietary Supplements; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Fish Oils - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glutathione - metabolism; Immunomodulation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - immunology; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Mitogens - pharmacology; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nutrition; Original Contribution; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Xanthophylls - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-011-0250-z

Purpose Higher intakes of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that are abundant in marine fishes have been long described as a “good nutritional intervention” with increasing clinical benefits to cardiovascular health, inflammation, mental, and neurodegenerative diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of daily fish oil (FO—10 mg EPA/kg body weight (BW) and 7 mg DHA/kg BW) intake by oral gavage associated with the antioxidant astaxanthin (ASTA—1 mg/kg BW) on the redox metabolism and the functional properties of lymphocytes from rat lymph nodes. Methods This study was conducted by measurements of lymphocyte proliferation capacity, ROS production [superoxide (O 2 •− ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )], nitric oxide (NO • ) generation, intracellular calcium release, oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, activities of major antioxidant enzymes, GSH/GSSG content, and cytokines release. Results After 45 days of FO + ASTA supplementation, the proliferation capacity of activated T- and B-lymphocytes was significantly diminished followed by lower levels of O 2 •− , H 2 O 2 and NO • production, and increased activities of total/SOD, GR and GPx, and calcium release in cytosol. ASTA was able to prevent oxidative modification in cell structures through the suppression of the oxidative stress condition imposed by FO. l -selectin was increased by FO, and IL-1β was decreased only by ASTA supplementation. Conclusion We can propose that association of ASTA with FO could be a good strategy to prevent oxidative stress induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids and also to potentiate immuno-modulatory effects of FO.