Short-term supplementation of DHA as phospholipids rather than triglycerides improve cognitive deficits induced by maternal omega-3 PUFA deficiency during the late postnatal stage

Food Funct. 2021 Jan 21;12(2):564-572. doi: 10.1039/d0fo02552f. Epub 2020 Dec 16.

Abstract

Cognitive deficiencies, which are caused by maternal omega-3 PUFA deficiency (O-3 Def), are likely to be more rapidly and easily reversed at younger ages with quicker DHA reversal. This study aims to compare the efficiency of short-term supplementation of DHA in the form of phospholipids (PL) and triglycerides (TG) and improve cognitive deficiency in the O-3 Def model during different periods of brain development (3-week and 7-week old). The animal's spatial task performance, brain PUFA concentration, histopathology, and expression of synapse-associated proteins in the hippocampus were then analyzed. We demonstrate here that DHA-PL shows improved efficiency in improving cognitive deficiency compared to DHA-TG, particularly for adult O-3 Def offspring. The superiority of DHA-PL also correlates with the specific elevation of synapse-associated proteins, including BDNF, DCX, GAP-43, Syn, and PSD95, except to higher brain DHA accretion. This work highlights the DHA-PL as a better DHA supplement for inferior brain development caused by maternal O-3 Def, especially regarding those who missed the optimal time window of neurodevelopment.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Suckling
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / diet therapy*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / chemistry
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / deficiency*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Mice
  • Morris Water Maze Test
  • Phospholipids / administration & dosage
  • Phospholipids / chemistry
  • Triglycerides / administration & dosage
  • Triglycerides / chemistry

Substances

  • Dcx protein, mouse
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Phospholipids
  • Triglycerides
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids