Eicosapentaenoic acid improves asthmaEffects of low-dust forages on dust exposure, airway cytology, and plasma omega-3 concentrations in Thoroughbred racehorses: A randomized clinical trial.
We compared how different types of forage affected asthma in Thoroughbred racehorses. Our focus was on assessing dust exposure, airway health, and the presence of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The horses were randomly assigned to three diets: dry hay, steamed hay, or haylage for a period of six weeks.
Throughout the study, we observed that horses fed steamed hay and haylage had significantly lower dust exposure compared to those that consumed dry hay. Interestingly, those on the haylage diet not only showed reduced levels of neutrophils in their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, indicating better airway health, but they also had an increase in the ratio of anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory lipids, particularly EPA.
In fact, the horses on haylage had higher ratios of eicosapentaenoic acid compared to both their baseline measurements and horses on the other diets. This suggests that incorporating haylage could be beneficial for managing asthma symptoms in racehorses. Overall, it appears that haylage may help improve respiratory health by reducing inflammation linked to asthma through its higher anti-inflammatory lipid profile.
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Eicosapentaenoic acid enhances asthma therapyEicosapentaenoic Acid Enhances the Effects of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in Experimental Allergic Asthma.
We set out to understand how eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might enhance the effects of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for allergic asthma. In our study, we used mice to create a model of severe allergic asthma by exposing them to house dust mite extracts. After the final exposure, we administered either unstimulated or EPA-stimulated MSCs to see how they impacted the mice's lung health and inflammation.
Our findings were quite promising. The mice that received EPA-stimulated MSCs showed notable improvements in their lung function and overall respiratory health compared to those treated with unstimulated MSCs. Specifically, we noticed a reduction in bronchoconstriction, less alveolar collapse, and decreased overall cell counts in the lungs, which is a sign of lower inflammation. Additionally, we saw an increase in beneficial markers such as IL-10 and changes in macrophage types, indicating a shift toward a more anti-inflammatory state.
This research underscores the potential of combining EPA with MSC therapy as a new approach for tackling allergic asthma. By enhancing the anti-inflammatory effects of MSCs, EPA might not only improve lung mechanics but also protect against further airway damage. Our work suggests that this strategy could be an exciting avenue for developing better treatments for asthma and potentially other inflammatory conditions.
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Sea cucumber extract shows asthma benefitsSea Cucumber Lipid-Soluble Extra Fraction Prevents Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Airway Inflammation.
In our exploration of asthma treatment, we focused on sea cucumber extracts and their effects on allergic airway inflammation. Using a method that separated the extract into three distinct phases, we specifically looked at how the n-hexane phase—rich in fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid—could influence asthma symptoms in mice.
We observed that when mice with asthma were treated with this n-hexane phase, their symptoms improved. This phase not only elevated the expression of Il10, an important anti-inflammatory cytokine, but also reduced the presence of eosinophils and goblet cell hyperplasia around the airways. Remarkably, we found decreases in several Th2 and Th17-related cytokines, which are usually elevated during asthma attacks.
The increase in other markers, like TGF-β and IL-10, is particularly interesting, as these are associated with regulatory T cells, which help control inflammation. Our findings suggest that eicosapentaenoic acid, along with other components in the sea cucumber extract, plays a positive role in addressing asthma symptoms by modulating immune responses effectively.
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Eicosapentaenoic Acid and AsthmaLong-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LCPUFAs) and the Developing Immune System: A Narrative Review.
We investigated how eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a type of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, could influence asthma symptoms, particularly in children. This research delved into various studies that highlighted EPA's potential to impact immune responses, especially when combined with other fatty acids like arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
While some findings suggested that supplementation with n-3 LCPUFAs, including EPA, could enhance immune maturation and reduce the risks of allergic diseases, the isolated effect of EPA specifically on asthma remains challenging to pinpoint. The studies indicated mixed results, noting certain benefits like reduced sensitization to allergens, but we found that the overall evidence regarding EPA's direct impact on asthma outcomes specifically is limited.
Therefore, although there are positive indications linking LCPUFAs to improved immune responses and potential reductions in asthma severity, the specific contribution of EPA alone could benefit from further examination. In essence, while EPA shows promise as part of a broader approach to managing asthma, the direct evidence of its effectiveness is not conclusively established.
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Eicosapentaenoic acid lowers asthma riskPrenatal oxidative balance and risk of asthma and allergic disease in adolescence.
In this study, we examined how eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid, might influence the development of asthma and allergic diseases in adolescents. We looked at data from 996 mother-child pairs to see how the mothers' nutrient intake and exposure to oxidative stressors during pregnancy affected their children's health.
Our findings highlighted that higher intake of eicosapentaenoic acid, alongside vitamin D, was associated with a reduced risk of asthma. Specifically, we noticed that among those with better EPA intake, there was about a 19% lower likelihood of developing current asthma symptoms.
While we identified potential protective factors, we also found that exposure to pollutants such as black carbon and particulate matter could significantly increase the risk of allergen sensitization. Interestingly, despite the associations we noted, there were no interactions between nutrient intake and oxidative stress sources.
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