Innovative research from the University of Eastern Finland suggests that consuming fatty fish and camelina sativa oil can decrease the lipophilic index in individuals with poor glucose metabolism or coronary heart disease. A lower lipophilic index denotes a more fluid cell membrane, a desirable characteristic for maintaining cell health and function.
The lipophilic index, a measure of cell membrane fluidity, significantly influences cell function and the operations of membrane-bound proteins. This fluidity is contingent upon the length and saturation of fatty acids within the membranes. Researchers have found that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, prevalent in fish, can be beneficial for cardiovascular health, but the precise mechanisms behind this beneficial effect necessitate further exploration. Conversely, the association between camelina oil – rich in alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid – and membrane fluidity remained unknown, until now.
To investigate the effects of fish and camelina oil consumption on the lipophilic index, researchers analyzed data from two randomized clinical trials. The first trial comprised 79 participants with impaired glucose tolerance, and the second trial consisted of 33 participants with cardiovascular disease.
In the first study, participants were randomly divided into four groups for a 12-week intervention: the camelina oil group, the fatty fish group, the lean fish group, and the control group. In the second study, participants were divided into the fatty fish group, lean fish group, and control group for an 8-week intervention.
The lipophilic index was calculated based on the erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in the first study and serum phospholipid fatty acids in the second study. The findings revealed that the consumption of fatty fish and camelina oil effectively decreased the lipophilic index, thereby increasing membrane fluidity.
A reduced lipophilic index was also associated with a larger mean HDL particle size and a higher concentration of large HDL particles, which are indicative of enhanced cardiovascular health.
This research illuminates a new potential mechanism for the cardiovascular benefits of fatty fish and camelina oil consumption. However, further research is needed to completely understand the pathways by which these dietary components influence cellular health and cardiovascular risk. The findings were published in the Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases journal.