Obesity and metabolic dysfunction are worldwide health epidemics and they have grown to unprecedented levels. Human NAFLD is directly linked to obesity and metabolic dysfunction, so attention was given to elucidating a more complete understanding of the liver's role in mediating the metabolically healthy obese phenotype and to better characterizing the potential contribution of dietary fat and fatty acids as a therapeutic supplement to obesogenic diets. Specifically, flaxseed is high in α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 n-3) and low in linoleic acid (LA; 18:2 n-6), and contains multiple other components such as fiber and lignans, and was investigated for its high potential to modify obesity phenotype and fatty liver disease. Additionally, we explored the temporal effect of initiating high-fat diets in various phases of adulthood. However, work in this field is complicated by an ongoing search for appropriate preclinical animal models of NAFLD as they have not been able to replicate the full spectrum of human NAFLD. As such, this dissertation sought to explore fatty liver disease in popular murine models of overnutrition, as well as a novel hen model. Major findings from this work showed that (1) exposure to a high-fat diet during early adulthood preserves metabolic homeostasis, modifies liver morphology, and protects against obesity-related disease, (2) dietary enrichment with flaxseed is capable of increasing tissue n3PUFA content, but this appeared to be only weakly related to metabolic and histological outcomes, and (3) there are limitations to the laying hen as a model of NAFLD as the pathogenic changes may not adequately match the human condition.

The efficiency of five natural antioxidants (curcumin, cranberry, pomegranate, grape seed extract (GSE) and açai berry) in reducing lipid oxidation in dog food was tested in comparison to the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Lipid oxidation was evaluated after 12 days of storage at 55C and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was measured as an indicator of lipid oxidation. In project one, the natural antioxidants were added at 0.2% and BHA at 0.02% of the food (DM basis) and samples were collected on day 12 and analyzed for TBARS. Compared with the control treatment, TBARS values were lower (p<0.01) for four antioxidant treatments (curcumin, cranberry, pomegranate and GSE) but not for the açai berry treatment (p<0.39). The four antioxidants showed similar efficacy at lowering lipid oxidation as BHA and therefore may have the potential to substitute BHA in dog food. In project two, we evaluated the effects of GSE and curcumin at two inclusion rates (0.1 and 0.2% of food DM) on TBARS and omega-3 fatty acid (FA) content over 12 days of storage at 55C. By day 12, our results showed no significant differences in TBARS values between the BHA and the 0.1% GSE treatment, however BHA was still more effective than the 0.1% GSE as the differences in fold increase in TBARS were lower for BHA (19.4%) than for the 0.1% GSE (75.5%) treatment. Omega-3 FA loss tended (P>0.11) to be greater at the lower inclusion rate which correlated with the increased TBARS values at the 0.1% when compared to the 0.2% inclusion rate. Curcumin and GSE were most effective at maintaining omega-3 FA content at the 0.2% inclusion rate and showed no significant differences from the BHA treatment. In conclusion, BHA in dog food can be effectively substituted by GSE, cranberry, curcumin and pomegranate at the inclusion rate of 0.2% of food DM.

Previous research has suggested a role for nutrients in several aspects of psychological functioning. Based on this research the present thesis explored the role of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals in cognition, mood and the perception of food. Divided into three sections, the first section of the thesis used qualitative methods to explore factors that affected food choice and the decision to consume a healthy diet (i.e. a diet high in omega-3, vitamins and minerals). In addition, factors that affected supplement use, specifically the factors that affected the use of omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin and mineral supplements were explored. From the data, two models were developed: one depicting factors that influenced food choice and healthy eating, and one depicting factors that influenced supplement use. After the examination of the factors that affected food choice, healthy eating and the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, the importance of these nutrients in psychological health and cognition was explored in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Specifically the second section explored the effect of vitamins, minerals, and/or omega-3 fatty acids in mild psychiatric symptoms, stress, aggression, impulsivity, fatigue, hostility, anxiety, confusion, confidence, reaction time, memory and vigilance. A positive response was found to DHA with regard to aggression and response inhibition; in addition there was a trend for those taking only DHA to report feeling more clearheaded the taking of vitamins/minerals alone resulted in feeling more clearheaded. Supplementation with vitamins and minerals was found to significantly reduce stress. With the General Health Questionnaire the difference between the placebo and vitamins/minerals groups approached statistical significance. There was no effect of omega-3, vitamins and minerals of any cognitive domain (memory, reaction time and vigilance). Although it was concluded that on occasions either vitamins/minerals or DHA when tested alone had a positive effect on mood, stress and mild psychiatric symptoms, there was no synergistic interaction; rather on occasions the interaction between these supplements had negative consequences. The third section explored the role of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals in the perception of food, specifically the effects of enrichment, health claim and gender on three variables involved in consumer behaviour: the perceived healthiness, the desirability of supplementation and the likelihood of purchase of foods. The main findings were that i) health claims increased the perceived healthiness of unhealthy foods; ii) the likelihood of purchase increased mostly after the enrichment of healthy foods (which is consistent with some findings but not others), iii) males were more likely to purchase healthy, high protein products than females. Besides these findings there was no consistent effect of enrichment, health claim or gender on the 3 facets of consumer behaviour, suggesting that the effects on the 3 consumer variables should be considered individually. In addition, when examining the role of gender males and females should be considered separately.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Human Nutrition / Weiqun Wang / Many functional food related bioactive compounds have been discovered and draw the attention of scientists. This dissertation focused on sorghum phenolic compounds and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Study 1: phenolic agents in plant foods have been associated with chronic disease prevention, especially cancer. However, a direct evidence and the underlying mechanisms are mostly unknown. This study selected 13 sorghum accessions and was aim to investigate: (1) the effect of extracted sorghum phenolics on inhibiting cancer cell growth using hepatocarcinoma HepG2 and colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cell lines; (2) and the underlying mechanisms regarding cytotoxicity, cell cycle interruption, and apoptosis induction. Treatment of HepG2 and Caco-2 cells with the extracted phenolics at 0-200 M GAE (Gallic acid equivalent) up to 72 hrs resulted in a dose- and time-dependent reduction in cell number. The underlying mechanism of cell growth inhibition was examined by flow cytometry, significant inverse correlations were observed between the decreased cell number and increased cell cycle arrest at G2/M or induced apoptosis cells in both HepG2 and Caco-2 cells. The cytotoxic assay showed that the sorghum phenolic extracts were non-toxic. Although it was less sensitive, a similar inhibitory impact and underlying mechanisms were found in Caco-2 cells. These results indicated for the 1st time that a direct inhibition of either HepG2 or Caco-2 cell growth by phenolic extracts from13 selected sorghum accessions was due to cytostatic and apoptotic but not cytotoxic mechanisms. In addition, these findings suggested that sorghum be a valuable functional food by providing sustainable phenolics for potential cancer prevention. Study 2: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) especially long-chain ω-3 PUFAs, have been associated with potential health benefits in chronic disease prevention. However, the conversion rate from short- to long-chain ω-3 PUFAs is limited in human body. This study was aim to assess the modification of fatty acid profiles as well as investigate the conversion of short- to long-chain ω-3 PUFAs in the liver of Shan Partridge duck after feeding various dietary fats. The experimental diets substituted the basal diet by 2% of flaxseed oil, rapeseed oil, beef tallow, or fish oil, respectively. As expected, the total ω-3 fatty acids and the ratio of total ω-3/ ω-6 significantly increased in both flaxseed and fish oil groups when compared with the control diet. No significant change of total saturated fatty acids or ω-3 fatty acids was found in both rapeseed and beef tallow groups. Short-chain ω-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA) in flaxseed oil-fed group was efficiently converted to long-chain ω-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the duck liver. This study showed the fatty acid profiling in the duck liver after various dietary fat consumption, provided insight into a dose response change of ω-3 fatty acids, indicated an efficient conversion of short- to long-chain ω-3 fatty acid, and suggested alternative long-chain ω-3 fatty acid-enriched duck products for human health benefits. In conclusion, the two studies in this dissertation provided a fundamental understanding of anti-cancer activity by sorghum phenolic extracts and the conversion of short- to long-chain ω-3 PUFAs in duck liver, contribute to a long term goal of promoting sorghum and duck as sustainable phenolic and ω-3 PUFAs sources as well as healthy food products for human beings.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-06-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:51:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 arruda_cm_me_botfm.pdf: 2320697 bytes, checksum: 36d804ba3cd19d52297e0d01b3162ada (MD5) / Atualmente a Aids é considerada doença crônica controlada com baixa morbidade e mortalidade. A terapia com antiretrovirais têm sido eficaz, porém associada com sérios efeitos metabólicos colaterais, dentre eles a hipertrigliceridemia..Ensaios epidemiológicos demonstram correlação entre níveis elevados de triglicérides, alterações de adipocitocinas e doença arterial coronariana.O uso do acido graxo omega-3( w-3) tem sido preconisado para a hipertrigliceridemia embora sem consenso. Avaliar o efeito do acido graxo ômega-3 em pacientes com HIV em tratamento antiretroviral (HAART) com níveis de triglicérides entre 200 e 400 mg/dl, correlacionando com os níveis de adipocitocinas. Foram estudados 17 pacientes de ambos os sexos com HIV/Aids em uso de antiretrovirais, no Serviço de Ambulatórios Especializados de Infectologia Domingos Alves Meira- UNESP, divididos em 2 grupos (G 1 e G 2)em dois momentos ( início e após 4 meses) todos com a mesma orientação alimentar e prática de atividade física. Ômega-3 foi preconizado no G1 . Em ambos os grupos foram avaliados: perfil antropométrico, hematimétrico, lipídico e imunológico. Dos 17 estudados , 7 eram do Grupo 1, 43% do sexo feminino,46,1±19,1 anos de idade, e o Grupo 2 foi composto por 10 pacientes, 40% do sexo feminino, 54,5± 25,4 anos de idade . Sobrepeso ocorreu em ambos os grupos, com tendência a melhora não muito significativa no Grupo 1 após 4 meses, e no Grupo 2 um leve aumento do peso no M2. Circunferência da cintura (CC), massa magra, gordura corporal, água corporal, perfil hematimétrico, imunológico não mostraram diferenças significativas nos dois grupos. Colesterol total e Triglicérides revelaram uma tendência a diminuir no M2 nos dois Grupos, o LDL teve um leve aumento no Grupo 1 no M2. As adipocitocinas mostraram... / Currently, AIDS is considered a chronic disease controlled with low morbidity and mortality. The antiretroviral therapy has been effective, but associated with serious metabolic side effects, including hypertriglyceridemia. Epidemiological trials demonstrate correlation between elevated triglyceride levels, changes in adipocytokines and arterial coronary disease. The use of omega-3 fatty acid (w -3) has been recommended to hipertrigliceridemia, although no agreement. Evaluating the effect of omega-3 fatty acid in patients with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with triglyceride levels between 200 and 400 mg / dl, correlating with the levels of adipocytokines. We studied 17 patients of both sexes with HIV / AIDS on antiretroviral use in Specialized Outpatient Service of Infectious Diseases “Domingos Alves Meira” - UNESP, divided into two groups (G1 and G2) on two occasions (beginning and after four months) all with the same nutritional guidance and physical activity. Omega-3 has been recommended in G1. Both groups were evaluated: anthropometric profile, erythrocyte, lipid and immune systems. From the 17 studies, 7 were in Group 1, 43% were female, 46.1 ± 19.1 year-age; Group 2 comprised ten patients, 40% were female, 54.5 ± 25, 4 year-age. Overweight occurred in both groups, with a trend towards improvement not very significant in Group 1 after four months, and in Group 2, there was a slight weight increase in M2. Waist circumference (WC), lean mass, body fat, body water, erythrocyte and immune profiles showed no significant differences in the two groups. Total cholesterol and triglycerides showed a tendency to decrease in M2 in both groups, LDL increased slightly in Group 1 in M2. The adipocytokines showed a tendency to... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Antonio Carlos L. Campos / Co-orientadora: Profª. Drª. Eneri Leite Mello / Co-orientador: Prof. Dr. Jorge Eduardo F. Matias / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Cirúrgica. Defesa: Curitiba, 31/10/2014 / Inclui referências / Área de concentração : Nutrição e cicatrização em cirurgia / Resumo: Introdução: A cicatrização das anastmoses em pacientes com câncer de ovário frequentemente se processa em ambiente de desnutrição e sob o efeito de quimioterápicos. Neste cenário o uso dos ácidos graxos ômega-3 têm sido propostos como elemento de reposição nutricional e como modulador do processo de cicatrização. Material e método: Foram estudados 160 ratos Wistar que foram divididos em dois grupos iguais. Um grupo foi submetido a desnutrição pelo processo de pair feending (D) por quatro semanas, durante as quais os ratos receberam metade da quantidade de comida do grupo controle. O outro grupo, nutrido (N), recebeu ração ad libitum. Na última semana, cada grupo foi subdividido em dois subgrupos que receberam, por gavagem, ácido graxo ômega-3 (O) na dosagem de 100 mg/kg ou azeite de oliva (A). Após este período, todos os animais foram submetidos a procedimento de colotomia em segmentos proximal e distal do cólon seguida de colorrafia. Após o procedimento cirúrgico cada subgrupo foi novamente subdivido em dois subgrupos que receberam salina (S) ou paclitaxel (P) na dose de 3,5 mg/kg intraperitonial. No quinto dia de pós-operatório os animais foram mortos. Foram avaliados dados evolutivos (peso, mortalidade, achados intraabdominais pós-morte). Os segmentos anastomóticos foram avaliados por meio da resistência a tração, parâmetros histológicos (hematoxilina-eosina, picro-sirius red) e parâmetros imunoistoquímicos, por meio dos marcadores CD 31 (contagem de vasos sanguíneos), ki-67 (células em proliferação) e calponina (miofibroblastos). Resultados: A mortalidade global foi de 26,8% sendo maior no grupo de animais que recebeu paclitaxel (p=0,003). Os animais submetidos a desnutrição pelo pair feeding apresentaram perda de peso em relação aos animais que receberam ração ad libitum (p<0,05). A incidência de estenose de anastomose foi maior no grupo de animais desnutridos em relação aos nutridos (p=0,007). A força de ruptura completa foi maior no grupo NAP em relação ao grupo DAP (1,2821 0,174 vs 0,7775 0,077; p<0,05). A média da intensidade do infiltrado inflamatório foi menor no grupo de DAS em relação ao grupo DOS (1,61 0,18 vs 2,50 0,16; p<0,05). O grupo NAS teve índice de maturação de colágeno (IMaC) médio maior que o grupo DAS (1,45 0,4 vs 0,35 0,08, p<0,05). O grupo NOS teve IMaC médio menor que o grupo DOS (2,08 0,35 vs 2,82 0,33, p<0,05). O grupo DAS teve IMaC médio menor que o grupo DOS (0,35 0,08 vs 2,82 0,33, p<0,05) e que o grupo DAP (0,35 0,08 vs 1,58 0,15, p<0,05). A contagem do número de vasos sanguíneos foi maior no grupo DAS em relação ao grupo DAP (12,64 1,7 vs 6,45 0,28; p<0,05) e menor no grupo DAP em relação ao grupo DOP (6,45 0,28 vs 8,91 0,88; p<0,05). Conclusão: A suplementação com ácido graxo ômega-3 associou-se ao aumento significativo na produção de colágeno maduro nos animais desnutridos, à reversão do efeito deletério causado pela desnutrição associada à administração do paclitaxel na força de ruptura e ao estímulo da neoangiogênese no grupo que recebeu paclitaxel. Palavras-chave: Anastomose colônica. Desnutrição. Ômega-3. Paclitaxel. / Abstract: Intoduction: The healing process of colonic anastomosis in patients with ovarian cancer often occurs in a condition of malnutrition and under the effect of chemotherapy. In this scenario, the use of -3 poli-unsaturated fatty acids ( -3 PUFA) has been proposed as nutrition element and as modulator of the cicatrization process. Material and methods: One hundred and sixty male Wistar rats were divided in two equal groups. The first group, malnourished (M), was submmited to a malnutrition process called pair feeding for a four-week period, in which animals have recieved half of the amount of food the control group received. The control group, well nourished (N), has received food ad libitum. During the last week of the fourweek period, each group of rats was divided in two subgroups that has received, via gavage, 100 mg/Kg of -3 PUFA (F) or olive oil (O). After this period, rats were submmited to colotomy surgery in two segments of the colon, proximal and distal, followed by colorraphy. Then each subgroup was divided again into two subgroups that have received intraperitouneously saline solution (S) or 3,5 mg/Kg paclitaxel (P). In the fifth day after surgery rats were killed. Weight, mortality and post-morten intraperitonious findings were evaluated daily during these five days after surgery. The clonic segments with anastomosis were evaluated by means of tensile strength, hitologic features, imunnohistochemical antibodies CD31 (blood vessels count), Ki67 (proliferating cells) and calponin (miofibroblsts). Results: The overall mortality tax was 26,8% being higher in the palcitaxel group (p=0,003). Animals submmited to a malnutrition process by pair feeding methodology lost more weight when compared with animals that have received food ad libitun (p<0,05). The incidence of anastomotic stenosis was higher in malnourished rats (p=0,007). The complete rupture strength (measured in Newtons) was higher in NOP group in relation to MOP group (1,2821 0,174 vs 0,7775 0,077; p<0,05). The average of inflamatory infiltrate intensity was lesser in MOS group when compared with MFS group (1,61 0,18 vs 2,50 0,16; p<0,05). The NOS group had mature collagen index (IMaC) higher than in MOS group (1,45 0,4 vs 0,35 0,08, p<0,05). This index was lesser in group NFS than in group MFS (2,08 0,35 vs 2,82 0,33, p<0,05) and lesser in group MOS than in groups MFS (0,35 0,08 vs 2,82 0,33, p<0,05) and MOP (0,35 0,08 vs 1,58 0,15, p<0,05).The blood vessels count was higher in MOS when compared with group MOP (12,64 1,7 vs 6,45 0,28; p<0,05) and lesser in group MOP when compared with group MFP (6,45 0,28 vs 8,91 0,88; p<0,05). Conclusion: The -3 PUFA supplementation was associated with increase in mature collagen production in malnourished animals, with revertion of deletrious effect of malnutrition associated with paclitaxel administration in rupture strenght and with neoangiogenesis stimulation in the paclitaxel group Keywords: Colonic anastomosis. Malnutrition. -3 PUFA. Paclitaxel.

abstract: The omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish and fish oil, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), have been associated with a reduction in risk for cardiovascular disease. Blood type is a known contributor to risk for cardiovascular events. This study evaluated the effect of fish oil supplements on cardiovascular risk markers in adults with blood types A or O. An 8-week parallel-arm, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted in healthy adult men and women with either blood type A (BTA) or blood type O (BTO). Participants were randomized to receive fish oil supplements (n=10 [3 BTA/7 BTO]; 2 g [containing 1.2 g EPA+DHA]/d) or a coconut oil supplement (n=7 [3 BTA/4 BTO]; 2 g/d). Markers that were examined included total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). Results indicated that the percent change in LDL cholesterol was significantly greater in the coconut oil group vs the fish oil group (-14.8±12.2% vs +2.8±18.9% respectively, p=0.048). There were no other significant differences between treatment groups, or between blood types A and O, for the other cardiovascular risk markers. Further research with a larger and more diverse sample may yield a more conclusive result. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2014

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a complete carcinogen, inducing skin cancer via DNA photodamage that can lead to mutagenesis, and promoting its growth via photoimmunosuppression (PI). The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid was shown in murine studies to protect against PI and UV-induced skin cancer although the mechanism is uncertain. The principal objectives of this thesis were to (i) examine whether n-3 PUFA can protect against a clinical model of PI in healthy humans and (ii) explore whether the underlying mechanism could be abrogation of UV-induced depletion of antigen-presenting Langerhans cells (LC) from the epidermis, and/or impact on immunomodulatory cytokines. Nickel (Ni) allergic females (n=79) were randomized to 3 months of daily supplementation with 5g n-3 PUFA (70% eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA; 10% docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) or the placebo medium chain triglyceride, GTCC. Local PI was clinically assessed post supplementation using the nickel contact hypersensitivity (Ni CHS) model. In each volunteer, Ni patches were applied to 3 skin sites that were irradiated for 3 consecutive days with UV-doses of 1.89, 3.82 & 7.59J/cm2 respectively. CHS responses were measured and compared to responses of control patches applied on unirradiated skin using a reflectance erythema meter. In the same subjects, assessments of cellular and biochemical mediators of PI were made pre and post supplementation. At 24hr post irradiation with an erythemal UV-dose (4 minimal erythemal doses) to upper buttock skin, half the subjects (n=39) had skin punch biopsies taken and the other half (n=40) had suction blisters raised on this irradiated skin and on unirradiated skin of the contralateral buttock. Epidermal sheets were prepared from the punch biopsies and immunohistochemically stained to assess UV-induced LC numbers. Levels of immunomodulatory cytokines were analysed in the suction blister fluid using Luminex multiplex assay kits. To evaluate compliance and bioavailability, blood samples were taken from all volunteers, pre and post supplementation and EPA% weight in red blood cell membranes was examined using gas chromatography. Post supplementation, EPA %wt was significantly higher in the active group compared to control: mean 3.61% ± 0.22% (SEM) vs. 0.93% ± 0.06% (p<0.001). 3 volunteers showed evidence of non-compliance and were excluded from further analysis. Compared to placebo, evidence for protection against local PI of Ni CHS was apparent post n-3 PUFA at all UV doses, reaching statistical significance at the UV-dose of 3.8J/cm2 (p<0.05). No significant difference in post-UV epidermal LC numbers after supplementation was seen between active and placebo groups, with a % fall following UV of 76.61 ± 3.39% (SEM) in the active group and 73.52 ± 5.24% (SEM) in the control group. When intragroup comparisons were made pre vs. post supplementation, a similar increase in UV-induced LC depletion from the epidermis was seen in both groups, reaching statistical significance following n-3 PUFA (p=0.018). Levels of interleukins IL-10 and IL-8, and of TNF-α, increased post-UVR in both active and control groups pre-supplementation, with no changes occurring following supplementation. In conclusion, supplemental EPA was bioavailable and evidence of protection against clinical PI of Ni CHS was seen in the actively treated group. However, no evidence was found that this abrogation of PI was mediated through a reduced effect of UV on migration of epidermal LC or the immunomodulatory cytokines examined. This original study gives the first evidence that dietary n-3 PUFA may protect against clinical PI, and potentially skin cancer promotion, in humans. Further research is needed to confirm this finding, and to examine the underlying mechanisms, which could involve other immunoregulatory cells of the skin, such as dermal dendritic cells and T regulatory cells and other mediators of UV-immunosuppression including the prostanoids, which may be modified by n-3 PUFA.

<p>Mild-moderate equine asthma (EA) is a commonly encountered disease of racehorses that affects performance. Decreasing dust exposure is crucial in the treatment of equine asthma. Dry hay, because of its high dust content, is known to increase the risk of airway inflammation. Feeding haylage, steamed hay, or hay pellets instead can help to decrease dust exposure. Haylage may also contribute to the resolution of airway inflammation by providing higher levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ω-3). Higher levels of Ω-3 are associated with an increase in pro-resolving lipid mediators (PRLM), essential molecules in the resolution of airway inflammation. </p> <p> The studies presented in this dissertation were designed to test the hypothesis that feeding low-dust forages would decrease airway inflammation in racehorses, and that haylage would provide superior resolution of airway inflammation compared to other low dust forages due to changes in systemic Ω-3 and PRLM concentrations associated with increased dietary Ω-3 intake.</p> <p>Three clinical trials were conducted to determine the effect of low-dust forages on airway inflammation. Environmental exposures were measured at the breathing zone, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and differential cytology counts were performed as measure of airway inflammation. </p> <p>The first clinical trial was a pilot study performed with 7 Standardbred racehorses. Horses were randomly assigned to eat hay (n=3) or haylage (n=4) for 6 weeks while in training. Measurements were performed at baseline and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Results showed a decrease in respirable dust, and β-glucan exposure in the horses fed haylage when compared to those fed hay. BAL neutrophil proportion was significantly lower at weeks 2, 4, and 6 when compared to baseline and at week 6 when compared to horses fed hay. </p> <p> The second clinical trial was performed on 19 mild asthmatic horses from the teaching herd. The diet of these horses was changed from dry hay to haylage (n=9) or hay pellets (n=10) for 6 weeks. Measurements were performed at baseline, week 3, and week 6. Results indicated that horses eating haylage and hay pellets were exposed to similar dust levels that were significantly lower than when they were eating dry hay. BAL neutrophil proportion was significantly lower in horses eating haylage when compared to baseline and to horses eating hay pellets at week 6. Horses eating haylage exhibited a significant decrease in stearic acid concentration at week 6. Pro-resolving lipid mediators (Resolvin D1, Resolvin E1, and Lipoxin A₄) did not affect neutrophil apoptosis or efferocytosis <i>in vitro</i>.</p> <p>The third clinical trial was performed on 73 thoroughbred racehorses actively racing and training. Horses were randomly assigned to eat dry hay or to change the forage to steamed hay or haylage. No other change in the management of the horses was allowed. Measurements were performed at baseline (n=73), week 3 (n=69), and week 6 (n=53). Results indicated that respirable dust exposure was significantly reduced when racehorses were fed steamed hay or haylage in place of dry hay. Respirable dust exposure was positively associated with BAL neutrophil proportions. Feeding haylage also significantly decreased exposure to respirable endotoxins. Horses eating haylage for 3 weeks had significantly lower BALF neutrophil proportion when compared with baseline. Also, at week 3, horses eating haylage showed a significant decrease in mast cell proportion, and horses eating steamed hay had a significant decrease in eosinophil proportion. At week 6, horses eating haylage maintained significantly lower BALF neutrophil proportions compared to baseline, and horses eating hay for 6 weeks. Concentration of Ω-3 and PRLM were not increased in horses eating haylage when compared to horses fed hay. Eicosapentaenoic acid was significantly higher on the horses eating haylage when compared to horses eating steamed hay. </p> <p>In conclusion, feeding low-dust forages is sufficient to decrease breathing zone exposure of horses to respirable dust. Despite similar dust exposure, haylage was the only low-dust forage that resulted in resolution of neutrophilic airway inflammation; however, the mechanism remains unclear.</p>

Thesis (D.Sc.N.S.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1993 (Nutritional Sciences). / Includes bibliography (leaves 176-187) / This dissertation has been presented in two related studies: A. Fish Oil Reduces Proteinuria and Interstitial Injury but not GIomerulosclerosis in the Milan Nomotensive Rat Rats of the Milan Normotensive strain (MNS) spontaneously develop severe Proteinuria and excessive glomemlar thromboxane (Tx)A2 PrOduction at a young age. These are accompanied by podocyte alterations and progressive focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) and interstitial fibrosis. Since previous studies showed that pharmacologic... [TRUNCATED]