Exploitation of omega-3 fatty acids from salmon oil in mice
The industry wants a shift from today's production of unrefined crude oils to pet food, towards more production of profitable salmon oils of high quality for human consumption.
Start
01. Jun 2024
End
30. Jun 2026
Funded by
FHF - Norwegian Seafood Research Fund
Cooperation
Oslo University Hospital (OUS) and University of Oslo (UiO)
Project Manager(s):
Other Participants:
This project will bring new knowledge about whether polyunsaturated fatty acids from salmon oil are equally available in the intestine and are absorbed in the blood and various tissues to the same extent as corresponding fatty acids from traditional fish oils.
Background
During the slaughter and processing of farmed salmon, significant amounts of residual raw materials are generated. Salmon oil is extracted from this, and in Norway production is estimated to be 50,000–70,000 tonnes per year. At present, most salmon oil is sold as crude oil and an ingredient for livestock feed and pet food, and to a relatively small extent for human consumption.
The oil thus has a lower economic value than traditional fish oils, which are used to a greater extent for human consumption. If salmon oil is to be used to a greater extent in dietary supplements for humans, it is important to have new knowledge about whether LC-n-3PUFA (long chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids) from salmon oil is equally available in the intestine and absorbed into the blood and various tissues to the same extent as LC-n-3PUFA from traditional fish oils.
In the next step, it is important to determine whether there is a sufficient amount of EPA and DHA (healthy marine omega-3 fatty acids) in salmon oil in suitable daily doses to achieve the desired beneficial effect on human health.
Goal
The main goal of the project is to investigate, using in vivo and in vitro model systems, any differences in uptake and utilization of EPA and DHA from salmon oil compared to a traditional 18:12 fish oil.
Milestone
- To investigate whether the self-synthesis of EPA and DHA from ALA in the diet with salmon oil can be increased by providing a diet oil mixture of salmon oil and cetoleic acid concentrate.
- To characterize oil quality and further investigate whether there is a difference in the digestion of a salmon oil and an 18:12 fish oil in an in vitro human digestion model.
- To compare the uptake of EPA and DHA from salmon oil with the uptake from an 18:12 fish oil in experimental mice.
- To investigate whether there is a difference in the deposition of EPA and DHA in tissues and organs in mice, including red blood cells (omega-3 index), and in the expression of selected health markers.
How we work
Project leader is Dr. Bente Ruyter from Nofima. The project consists of two scientific parts, of which Nofima is most involved in the first:
Part 1: Acquisition and characterization of marine oils for use in dietary experiments with mice
Responsible: Dr. Astrid Nilsson (Nofima)
- Selection of marine oils for use in experimentsExtracted and refined salmon oil (human quality) for the experiment is supplied by Noble Harvest AS.
The salmon oil is based on raw material from Nordlaks, and produced from trimmings and intestines shortly after the fish was slaughtered, and is thus a high-quality refined salmon oil suitable as a human dietary oil. As a reference oil, 18:12 fish oil is used, which will also be supplied by Noble Harvest AS. To study the effect of cetoleic acid on the utilization of ALA to EPA and DHA in salmon oil, a cetoleic acid concentrate supplied by Epax Norway is used. The marine oils that are collected and characterized will be used both in vitro digestion models and in vivo mouse experiments. - Characterization of experimental oils and feedFatty acid composition and oxidative stability of oils and feed will be analyzed using GC-FID and headspace-GC-MS, respectively.A static in vitro human digestion model, INFOGEST, will be used, which simulates what takes place in the mouth, stomach. By using the INFOGEST model on salmon oil and 18:12 fish oil, we will increase knowledge about how EPA and DHA are broken down from the triglycerides in the various oils and thereby made available for absorption in the body. The studies will enable one to predict the uptake and bioavailability of salmon oil compared to the 18:12 fish oil in humans.
- Design four different experimental feeds for mouse experiments
A standard basic commercial mouse feed (58Y2), with different oils added, will be used in the experiment.
Overview of diet groups:
- Plant Oil Diet (Control)
- Salmon oil diet
- 18:12 Fish oil diet
- Salmon Oil + Ketolic Acid Concentrate Diet
Part 2: Diet experiments with mice
Part 2 of the project is dietary experiments with mice, where Professor Bente Halvorsen at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) is responsible. In this part, Dr. Bente Ruyter at Nofima is responsible for fatty acid analyses of tissues and organs
Research areas
Feed development and nutrition
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