PNAS: Taking ultra-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids can improve vision and retinal function

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) such as oleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid are essential fatty acids that are extremely important to human health.

Studies have found that in vertebrates there is also a very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (VLC-PUFA) longer than 26 carbon atoms, which has the characteristics of both MUFA and PUFA.

Recently, researchers from the University of Utah in the United States published research results on "PNAS" entitled Retinal bioavailability and functional effects of a synthetic very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in mice.

Previous studies have found that VLC-PUFA is synthesized by an enzyme called ELOVL4 that catalyzes the extension of specific precursors such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid in the retina.

Researchers speculate that if patients with STGD3 or age-related macular degeneration take sufficient amounts of VLC-PUFA, these VLC-PUFAs may be transported to the retina for use, avoiding the lipid elongation defect mediated by the ELOVL4 enzyme, and delaying or preventing Retinal degeneration.

Because VLC-PUFA is only synthesized in a small amount in the human body, unlike previous people who stopped being able to obtain pure and large amounts of VLC-PUFA, researchers have developed a DHA (22:6 n-3) substrate that can be as high as 15% A non-toxic synthesis method with high yield, which can amplify the output according to the input ratio, and can be easily modified to generate a variety of n-3 and n-6 ​​physiologically relevant VLC-PUFAs.

In order to clarify its role in the development of the retina, the researchers first used 6 mg/d and 1 or 2 mg/d of VLC-PUFA (32:6 n-3) to feed mice in single and repeated doses to understand its Absorption dynamics.

After that, the researchers used electroretinogram (ERG) and optodynamic response (OKR) to test the vision of mice in the control group and the 2 mg/d long-term feeding group, and found VLC-PUFA (32:6 n-3) The supplementation significantly improved the retinal function and vision of mice, and the visual acuity of scotopic and photopic vision of mice in the treatment group was much better than that of the control group.

In order to further confirm its function in the retina, the researchers also used VLC-PUFA (32:6 n-3) to treat E4cKO mice, that is, knockout mice that completely eliminated the expression of ELOVL4.

Paul S.

Reference materials:

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