September 20, 2011
This session was chaired by Dr Stefanie Oude Elferink (Friesland Campina, The Netherlands).
Professor Bruce German (University California, USA) gave an overview of the importance of SAFA in the diet based upon the conservation of the milk protein genes throughout evolution: milk is a lipid delivery system. The explanation why dietary SAFA raise blood cholesterol is that a hepatic gene called PGC-1? is activated which stimulated the formation of endogenous production of fatty acids and consequently the formation of VLDL. This is an effective situation for providing energy in situations like exercise, lactation, during infancy and acute phase immune response. This means that SAFA are not only used for energy but also function as signalling molecules. He concluded that there is no evidence supporting the assumption that SAFA at any level are deleterious. Diets high in fat and SAFA are associated with increased risk in certain groups, but not on a population level. He also stated that there is a need to shift from population based recommendations to more personalized nutrition. This approach should also take into account the differences in genetics, life stage and life style which also lead to variations in responses to the diet including SAFA.
Next speaker in this session was dr. Carel Thijs (University Maastricht, The Netherlands) who evaluated the role of perinatal supply of fatty acids in the early development of atopic eczema and allergic sensitisation in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. Additional to the conventional group of pregnant mothers an alternative group was recruited with an alternative life style (higher intake of organic foods and prolonged breastfeeding). Fatty acids of interest in breast milk were ruminant trans fatty acids (vaccenic acid, C18:1-t11 and conjugated linoleic acid, C18:2-c9,t11) and fish fatty acids (EPA, DPA, DHA). Results showed that both higher concentrations of the ruminant as well as of the fish fatty acids in breast milk were associated with a lower risk of parent-reported eczema, atopic dermatitis and sensitisation at age 1 year, which may indicate a protective role of these fatty acids.
Ellen van der Gaag (Hospital Group Twente, The Netherlands) presented a small-scaled intervention in which several dietary changes were introduced together to young children suffering from recurrent infections. Dietary change consisted of increasing the intake of nutrient rich food types: eating vegetables (5 times a week), beef (3 times a week) and use of butter and whole milk and this seemed to diminish the complaints.
The last speaker of this session was associate professor dr. Dariush Mozaffarian (Harvard University, USA) and his presentation was entitled "Trans-palmitoleic acid, metabolic risk factors and new-onset of diabetes". Carbohydrates and proteins are converted to fatty acids for storage in the body and this process is called de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Cis-palmitoleic acid (C16:1 n-7) is one of the fatty acids that is being formed during DNL. If prolonged fat storage occurs in the liver, adiposity arises, which can lead to insulin resistance. Human studies so far have revealed mixed results on the relation between cis-palmitoleic acid and diabetes. Results from a recent prospective cohort study showed that life style drivers also influence the concentration of cis-palmitoleic acid in blood, so the interpretation is difficult. Subsequently the association between trans-palmitoleic acid and the onset of diabetes was investigated. This fatty acid is a unique exogenous source which is related to the intake of dairy. Results from the same prospective cohort showed that higher concentrations of trans-palmitoleic acid were associated with a lower risk on diabetes. This higher concentration equals 2-3 servings in dairy per day. He concluded that there is something in dairy that is metabolically effective, probably trans-palmitoleic acid, which can explain the protective effect of dairy on the onset of diabetes, but more research is needed.
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