The paper was written together with independent research organizations Nofima, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and Oslo University Hospital (OUS), and the recognition underscores Epax's commitment to advancing research and innovation in the field of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Effects of n-3 Very-Long-Chain PUFA on Bone Mineralisation

Authors: Martina Torrissen, Elisabeth Ytteborg, Harald Svensen, Tone-Kari Østbye, Gerd Berge, Sjur Reppe, Aleksei Krasnov, and Bente Ruyter.

Published in: British Journal of Nutrition.

Background:  

• Osteoporosis is a significant health issue, particularly in post-menopausal women and the elderly, leading to morbidity, mortality, and economic burden  
• Dietary n-3 PUFA in the form of EPA and DHA has previously been shown to increase bone strength and protect against bone loss in various species, including post-menopausal women.
• n-3 Very-Long-Chain PUFA (VLC-PUFA), defined as fatty acids with a carbon chain length of ≥ 24, are less understood but may have specific functions in various tissues.

Study overview

The study investigated the potential of dietary intake of n-3 VLC-PUFA to influence bone mineralisation through a 5-week dose-response feeding trial in Atlantic salmon and the effects on the maturation and specialisation of a human foetal (osteoblast), bone cell line.

Results

The study found that n-3 VLC-PUFA promotes mineral deposition and density of bone, inhibits bone resorption, and thereby potentially provides increased bone strength.

Additional details

• The study involved the production of two different n-3 VLC-PUFA concentrates from fish oil, which were used in both the salmon feeding trial and cell culture experiments.
• The Atlantic salmon were housed in freshwater tanks at Nofima’s Aquaculture research station in Sunndalsøra, Norway, and were maintained under controlled conditions for the duration of the 5-week trial.
• The results demonstrated that n-3 VLC-PUFA supplementation led to increased mineralisation and maturation of the scales and vertebrae in Atlantic salmon, which bears similarities to bone tissue development in mammals  

Implications:

The findings suggest that n-3 VLC-PUFA could be beneficial in preventing and treating osteoporosis by promoting bone health and reducing bone loss.

Link to study: https://www.cambridge.org/core...

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