# NUTRITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 1988 · $124,794

## Abstract

Enthusiasm that certain dietary oils are capable of influencing
eicosanoid biosynthesis and some clinical conditions, have
prompted a variety of studies, notably, that the dietary intake of
Fish oil (which contains polyunsaturates:  EPA (20:5n3) and DCHA
(22:6n3) may be of preventive value in coronary heart disease
while Evening Primrose oil (which contains LA (18:2n6) and GLA
(18:3n6)) can improve atopic eczema.  A serious flaw in these
studies is the lack of information on the biological effects of the
constituent PUFAs contained in these oils.  To delineate the
functional role of each of these PUFAs we propose in Phase I
studies to feed the control group of guinea pigs a basal diet
containing 2% of olive oil (which contains a minimum amount of
linoleic acid to prevent EFA deficiency) while the experimental
groups will receive: the basal diet supplemented with either 2%
safflower oil, 2% primrose oil or 2% fish oil (menhaden oil).
Purified blood PMNs and keratomed epidermis from the various
animal groups will be removed and assessed for: (i) incorporation
of PUFAs into PMNs and epidermal phospholipids; (ii) Ca2+
ionophore (A23187) induced generation of cyclooxygenase and 5-
lipoxygenase products of: AA, EPA, GLA, and DCHA.  (iii)
Agonist-induced metabolism of PMNs prelabeled with 14C-AA and
(b) incubation of 14C-AA by epidermal homogenates prepared
from various PUFA fed animals.  These studies should reveal
whether the uptake of the PUFA mixtures by PMNs and epidermis
do modify the abilities of the tissue and cell to transform 14C-AA
into the 14C-eicosanoids.  Additionally, we will assess PMN
functional responses by: (i) N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-
phenylalanine (FMLP) and LTB4- induced shape changes; (ii)
FMLP-induced secretion responses in cytochalasin B pre-treated
cells and (iv) FMLP and PMA-induced superoxide production.  In
Phase II studies, control G. pigs will be fed basal diet as described
above; while the experimental groups will be fed the basal diet
supplemented with either 0.68 g EPA-ethyl ester (EPA-E), 0.4g
DCHA-E and 0.24g GLA-E for 4 weeks.  Similar experiments as
described in Phase I will be carried out with epidermis and PMNs
isolated from the animal groups.  Taken together, these studies
should provide information on the dietary role of each of the
PUFA on 14C-AA metabolism by epidermis and PMNs as well as
on PMNs function.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3159100
- **Project number:** 1R01AR039040-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **SAM.gov UEI:** TX2DAGQPENZ5
- **Principal Investigator:** VINCENT A ZIBOH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $124,794
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1988-02-01 → 1991-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3159100

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3159100, NUTRITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (1R01AR039040-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3159100. Licensed CC0.

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