LIPHEALTH · Lipidomics in human development, health and chronic diseases

Final Activity Report Summary - LIPHEALTH (Lipidomics in Human Development, Health and Chronic Diseases.)

Dietary Fat and Membrane Lipid Map. The aim was to elucidate the effect of gender and background diet on red cell membrane lipid/fatty acid profile (map). Red cell membrane fatty acids of healthy volunteers from Israel, Norway and UK were investigated. One peer reviewed original paper and 3 abstracts in proceedings of international conferences have been published. Two more papers are being finalised for submission. Membrane Lipid Map and Pregnancy-Induced Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. The objective was to investigate the effect of pregnancy induced diabetes and high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia) on plasma proteomics, gene expression and blood cell membrane lipids. Pregnant women with and without diabetes, and with and without pre-eclampsia were studied. Two peer reviewed original papers and two abstracts in proceedings of international conferences have been published, one paper is under consideration and another is in preparation. Dietary Lipids, Membrane physics, Signalling and Gene Expression. In different cell lines, we investigated: (a) incorporation and de-novo synthesis of omega 9, 6 and 3 fatty acids, (b) modulation of synthesis and incorporation of long chain omega 6 and 3 fatty acids by metabolites of vitamin A (retinoids) or vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), (c) the effect of long chain omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids on lipid and insulin signalling. One peer reviewed original paper and six abstracts in proceedings of international conferences have been published and two papers are in preparation. Dietary Lipids and Modulation of Chronic Diseases - (a) Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation in diabetic pregnancy. The aim was to elucidate whether omega 3 fatty acid supplementation corrects maternal and foetal blood cell membrane lipid abnormalities of pregnant women with type 2 and gestational diabetes. Subsequent to enrolment, the women were divided into two groups and randomly given omega 3 fatty acids or placebo capsules until delivery. Blood specimens were obtained from all of them at recruitment and delivery. Comprehensive data analyses are in progress. A preliminary finding has been published as an abstract in proceedings of an international conference. (b) Therapeutic benefit of omega 3 fatty acids for prevention of vaso-occlusive crisis in patients with homozygous sickle cell diseases - Two hundred twenty patients after stratification for age and gender were randomly classified into two groups and given omega 3 fatty acids or placebo for one year. Clinical, biochemical, haematological, membrane lipid map, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, electroencephalograph and transcranial Doppler blood flow velocity were investigated. Two abstracts in proceedings of an international conference have been published. It is anticipated that the data will generate about 10 original publications. In addition, the feasibility of filing a patent application is under discussion. (c) Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on electroencephalography/events related potential assessments of brain function and behaviour measures in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder children - Two peer reviewed original papers and three abstracts in proceedings of international conferences have been published and two papers are in first-draft stage. (d) Role of omega 3 fatty acids in inflammation - The aim of the study was to investigate if omega 3 fatty acids modulate inflammation using animal models of inflammatory bowel disease (trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced & dextran sodium sulfate-induced) and diabetes (streptozotocin-induced). A paper is in drafting stage. Membrane Lipids and Drug Action. Nuclear magnetic resonance, monolayer studies and atomic force microscopy were employed to investigate the effects of the major molecular species of choline, ethanolamine and inositol phosphoglycerides in the interdigitation of the psychiatric medications, impipramine and chlorpromazine. Data analyses are in progress.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union