R01DK29930 NEURINGER, MARTHA D ESSENTIALITY OF DIETARY OMEGA 3 FATTY
-PROJECT NUMBER......2 R01 DK29930-15A1
INSTITUTEDK FY 96 NEURINGER, MARTHA D
INITIAL REVIEW GROUP IRGNTN OREGON HEALTH SCIENCES UNIV
AWARD AMOUNT......... $332,145 3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD
PORTLAND, OR 97201-3098
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON
TITLE ESSENTIALITY OF DIETARY OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS
FUTURE YEARS 1
ABSTRACT:

The essentiality of dietary omega-3 fatty acids remains an unresolved issuein human nutrition. The high content of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6omega3or DHA) in the phospholipids of the retina and cerebral cortex suggestsan important role in photoreceptor and neuronal membrane functions. We areinvestigating the effects of omega-3 fatty acid deprivation in rhesus monkeysduring prenatal and postnatal development. DHA levels in retinal and brainphospholipids were greatly reduced, visual acuity development was delayed,retinal function as measured with the electroretinogram (ERG) was abnormal,and several behavioral changes have been identified. Effects on the ERGwere not reversible by refeeding with fish oil or pure DHA at 10 monthsor older. We propose to complete two studies which are now in progress toaddress several remaining critical questions about the effects of dietaryomega-3 fatty acid deficiency and supplementation:

1. What form of dietary omega-3 fatty acids is optimal for functional development?Should infants receive preformed DHA, arachidonic acid and the other very-long-chainessential fatty acids present in human milk? We are comparing several aspectsof development in rhesus infants receiving a standard formula providinglinolenic acid and in those receiving a formula with fatty acid compositionsimulating primate milk.

2. Can effects of low dietary omega-3 fatty acids be separated from thoseof high omega-6 fatty acids? In the current studies, omega-3 fatty aciddeficient diets are matched to control diets in their level of omega-6 fattyacids.

3. Does omega-3 fatty acid deficiency affect other aspects of sensory function,and does it affect complex behaviors and cognitive abilities? We have newevidence for effects on behavioral reactivity and infant visual informationprocessing, and we are exploring several other aspects of behavior and cognitivefunction in both infants and adults.

4. How do deficiency and supplementation alter phospholipid molecular speciescomposition as well as the fatty acid composition of the retina, cerebralcortex and other tissues? Are there changes in the density and morphologyof synapses in the cerebral cortex or in levels of key neurotransmittersand their receptors?

These studies will help to determine nutritional needs for omega-3 fattyacids during development, and the results will have important implicationsfor the composition of human infant formulas as well as for the optimumdiets of pregnant and lactating women. These studies will also help to definethe roles of these fatty acids in neural, sensory and behavioral development.

CRISP INDEXINGTERMS FROM CRISP THESAURUS:
11301983P omega 3 fatty acid
20536900P developmental neurobiology
21164927P developmental nutrition
21165687P dietary lipid
21165783P essential fatty acid
21168524P nutrient requirement
04804134S cerebral cortex
10124865S evoked potential
11114382S retina
11136113S visual perception
11301139S linolenate
11779830S baby food
14483909S histopathology
17441376S blood lipid
20473201S synapse
21168601S dietary supplement
22936758S phospholipid
24831070S cognition
24834058S learning
00701127T infant animal
01821666T Macaca mulatta
11150524T electroretinography
21166582T nutrition related tag
24828792T behavior test
24835410T neuropsychological test