Fatty fish consumption increases cell membrane fluidity

Newswise — Consuming oily seafood lessened the lipophilic scale in individuals with compromised glucose metabolism or coronary artery disease, as per a fresh investigation conducted by the University of Eastern Finland. The lipophilic scale is regarded as an indicator of cell membrane flexibility, and a reduced lipophilic scale signifies enhanced membrane flexibility. In a recent publication in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, a diminished lipophilic scale was additionally linked to increased mean HDL particle size and heightened abundance of sizable HDL particles, implying advantages for cardiovascular health.

The lipophilic metric has been introduced to depict the flexibility of membranes, which has the potential to alter the functionality of cells and proteins bound to the membrane. The length and saturation of fatty acids in membranes have an impact on membrane flexibility. To illustrate, the fatty acids found in serum lipids or erythrocyte membranes can be utilized to compute the lipophilic index. Previous investigations have indicated that omega-3 fatty acids with long carbon chains in fish offer advantages in terms of cardiovascular risk. However, further research on the underlying mechanisms is still required. On the contrary, camelina oil is abundant in alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid whose relationship with membrane flexibility remains unknown.

The investigators leveraged data from two randomized clinical trials to examine the impact of consuming fish and camelina sativa oil on the lipophilic index. The initial study involved 79 individuals (both men and women) with impaired glucose tolerance, while the second study included 33 men and women with cardiovascular disease. To conduct a 12-week intervention, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: the camelina oil group, the fatty fish group, the lean fish group, or the control group in the first study. In the second study, subjects were randomly allocated to the fatty fish group, the lean fish group, or the control group for an 8-week intervention. The lipophilic index was determined by analyzing erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in the first study and serum phospholipid fatty acids in the second study.

In both the aforementioned studies, the consumption of four weekly meals consisting of fatty fish resulted in a reduction in the lipophilic index, indicating improved membrane fluidity. This enhancement in membrane fluidity has been linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular issues. Additionally, an improved lipophilic index, indicative of better membrane fluidity, was associated with larger high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. These larger HDL particles have also been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular problems. However, the consumption of lean fish or camelina sativa oil did not exhibit any notable effects on the lipophilic index.