Docosahexaenoic acid [DHA, 22:6(n-3)] prevents cardiovascular disease by decreasing obesity. It also prevents cancer and other geriatric diseases. We studied the chronic pleiotropic effects of DHA on transcription including that of mRNAs for uncoupling proteins (UCP). Male and female mice (9 mo old) were fed high (n-6) or high (n-3) fatty acid diets for 4 mo. Compared with controls fed high (n-6) fatty acid diets [high (n-6) group], the livers of male and female mice fed DHA [high (n-3) group] contained six- (P < 0.001) and fivefold (P < 0.001) more DHA, respectively. The high (n-3) group had less white adipose tissue [35.3% in males (P < 0.001) and 27.3% in females (P < 0.001)]. The high (n-3) group expressed more uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) in the gastrocnemius, 108% higher (P < 0.001) and 104% higher (P < 0.001) in males and females, respectively, than those in the high (n-6) group. However, the prevention of many diseases by DHA is not explained by UCP3. Thus, the gene expression profiles of both high (n-3) and high (n-6) groups were analyzed in skeletal muscle using cDNA expression array. Of 588 genes surveyed in the array, the high (n-3) group showed 12 genes (2%) including those for glucose regulators (e.g., CD38) and tumor suppressors (e.g., CTCF) that were expressed 100–340% more than those of the high (n-6) group. Furthermore, 28 genes (4.8%), including growth factors (e.g., ErbB-2 receptor) and immune regulators (e.g., interleukin-1 β precursor) were expressed 50–90% less in the high (n-3) group than in the high (n-6) group. These results explain in part the important pleiotropic effects of DHA, which are independent of obesity control by UCP3 suppression.

The average life span of Mongolians is 62 years for males and 69 years for females. This life span is about 16 years shorter than that of Japanese. Mongolian people generally eat meat, fat and diary products but less vegetables or fruit. Thus, we investigated the state of oxidative stress and dietary habits of Mongolians. The investigation was performed in Murun city in the northwest area of Mongolia. A total of 164 healthy subjects (24–66 y) were enrolled. As a marker of reactive oxygen species, the levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) were measured using the d-ROM test. Interviews about dietary habits were performed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire established by the Kagawa Nutrition University. ROM levels were 429.7 ± 95.2 Carr U for Murun subjects, whereas Japanese people (n = 220, 21–98 y) showed 335.3 ± 59.8 (p < 0.001). The levels of serum malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were also high. ROM levels correlated with body fat ratio and inversely correlated with handgrip strength. Handgrip strength in the subjects over 45 years decreased more rapidly than that of age-matched Japanese. Murun subjects ate larger amounts of meat, fat, milk and flour and dairy products than Japanese, but less vegetables or fruit. Serum vitamin A and E levels were the same as Japanese references, but vitamin C levels were lower. Murun subjects may be in high oxidative stress, which may have a relationship with early ageing and several diseases, ultimately resulting in their short life span. In order to increase antioxidant capacity and suppress overproduction of ROM, antioxidant food intake is recommended.

Background: The transport of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n‐6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3), to the fetus from maternal stores increases depending on the fetal requirements for PUFA during the last trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, maternal blood PUFA changes physiologically with gestational age. However, the changes in PUFA levels in maternal blood erythrocytes during pregnancy and after childbirth have not been fully investigated in a fish‐eating population. Objective: To examine the changes of ARA and DHA levels in maternal erythrocytes with the progress of pregnancy and the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord erythrocyte PUFA levels in pregnant Japanese women who habitually eat fish and shellfish. Design: This study was performed as a part of the adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). The participants were 74 pregnant women. The maternal blood samples were collected at 27, 30, and 36 weeks of pregnancy, and 2 days and 1 month after delivery, and umbilical cord blood was collected at delivery. The fatty acid levels of erythrocytes in these blood samples were determined. Results: ARA and DHA levels in maternal erythrocytes tended to decrease with the progress of pregnancy. While the DHA level decreased further after delivery, the ARA level returned to the value at 27 weeks of pregnancy within 1 month after delivery. The n‐3 and n‐6 PUFA levels in maternal erythrocytes at 27, 30, and 36 weeks of pregnancy were significantly positively correlated with the corresponding fatty acid levels in umbilical cord erythrocytes. Conclusion: The present findings showed a significant change in erythrocyte PUFA levels during pregnancy and after childbirth in a fish‐eating population. The PUFA levels of maternal blood after the second trimester may be a reliable marker for predicting PUFA levels in infants’ circulating blood.