Maternal Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid Alters Lipid Peroxidation Products and (n-3)/(n-6) Fatty Acid Balance in Offspring Mice

The abundance of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the mammalian brain has generated substantial interest in the search for its roles in regulating brain functions. Our recent study with a gene/stress mouse model provided evidence to support the ability for the maternal supplement of DHA to alleviate autism-associated behavior in the offspring. DHA and arachidonic acid (ARA) are substrates of enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions, and lipid peroxidation results in the production of 4-hydroxyhexenal (4-HHE) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), respectively. In this study, we examine whether a maternal DHA-supplemented diet alters fatty acids (FAs), as well as lipid peroxidation products in the pup brain, heart and plasma by a targeted metabolite approach. Pups in the maternal DHA-supplemented diet group showed an increase in DHA and a concomitant decrease in ARA in all brain regions examined. However, significant increases in 4-HHE, and not 4-HNE, were found mainly in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Analysis of heart and plasma showed large increases in DHA and 4-HHE, but a significant decrease in 4-HNE levels only in plasma. Taken together, the DHA-supplemented maternal diet alters the (n-3)/(n-6) FA ratio, and increases 4-HHE levels in pup brain, heart and plasma. These effects may contribute to the beneficial effects of DHA on neurodevelopment, as well as functional changes in other body organs

Predictors of serum testosterone and DHEAS in African-American men

There are few reported data on biochemical and functional correlates of androgen levels in African-American men. This study aimed at reporting physical and biochemical correlates of serum total testosterone (total T), bioavailable testosterone (BT) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) levels in community-dwelling, African-American men aged 50–65 years. Home-based physical examinations and health status questionnaires were administered to randomly sampled men. Body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), lower limb and hand-grip muscle strength, and neuropsychological functions were assessed. Levels of serum total T, BT, DHEAS, oestradiol (E2), adiponectin, leptin, triglycerides and glucose were measured. Multiple linear regression models were constructed to identify factors independently associated with androgen levels. DHEAS levels declined from age 50 to 65 years (p < 0.0001), but total T and BT levels remained constant. Independent of other associated factors, higher total T levels were associated with lower serum triglyceride levels (β = −0.142, p = 0.049); higher BT was associated with better performance on the trail-making tests (TMT-B:TMT-A ratio: β = −0.118, p = 0.024) and higher DHEAS levels were associated with lower adiponectin (β = −0.293, p = 0.047) and higher mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score (β = 0.098, p = 0.008). Multiple regression models predicted 21, 18 and 29% of variance in total T, BT and DHEAS, respectively. Higher total T levels were associated with serum metabolic markers, particularly lower triglycerides, whereas higher BT was associated with better cognitive and muscle function and DHEAS with lower adiponectin and higher MMSE scores.Matthew T. Haren, William A. Banks, H. M. Perry, Ping Patrick, Theodore K. Malmstrom, Douglas K. Miller and John E. Morle