Differences in metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles between responders and non-responders to an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) supplementation

• Published in: Genes & nutrition Vol. 8; no. 4; pp. 411 - 423
• Main Authors: Rudkowska, Iwona, Paradis, Ann-Marie, Thifault, Elisabeth, Julien, Pierre, Barbier, Olivier, Couture, Patrick, Lemieux, Simone, Vohl, Marie-Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer-Verlag 01.07.2013
• Subjects: arachidonic acid; blood glucose; docosahexaenoic acid; genes; glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase; lipid metabolism; monoacylglycerols; omega-3 fatty acids; phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase; phospholipase A2; Research Paper; sphingolipids; stearoyl-CoA desaturase; triacylglycerol lipase; triacylglycerols
• ISSN: 1555-8932; 1865-3499
• DOI: 10.1007/s12263-012-0328-0

Studies have demonstrated large within-population heterogeneity in plasma triacylglycerol (TG) response to n-3 PUFA supplementation. The objective of the study was to compare metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles of responders and non-responders of an n-3 PUFA supplementation. Thirty subjects completed a 2-week run-in period followed by a 6-week supplementation with n-3 PUFA (3 g/d). Six subjects did not lower their plasma TG (+9 %) levels (non-responders) and were matched to 6 subjects who lowered TG (−41 %) concentrations (responders) after the n-3 PUFA supplementation. Pre-n-3 PUFA supplementation characteristics did not differ between the non-responders and responders except for plasma glucose concentrations. In responders, changes were observed for plasma hexose concentrations, docosahexaenoic acid, stearoyl-CoA-desaturase-18 ratio, and the extent of saturation of glycerophosphatidylcholine after n-3 PUFA supplementation; however, no change in these parameters was observed in non-responders. Transcriptomic profiles after n-3 PUFA supplementation indicate changes in glycerophospholipid metabolism in both subgroups and sphingolipid metabolism in non-responders. Six key genes in lipid metabolism: fatty acid desaturase 2, phospholipase A2 group IVA, arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase, phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase, monoglyceride lipase, and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, were expressed in opposing direction between subgroups. In sum, results highlight key differences in lipid metabolism of non-responders compared to responders after an n-3 PUFA supplementation, which may explain the inter-individual variability in plasma TG response.