Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes

Abstract Background In recent years, the use of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ω3 and ω6, as food supplements in livestock has increased due to their beneficial properties related to their antioxidant activity. It has been demonstrated however that a high intake of these substances ha...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Valeria Pasciu, Maria Nieddu, Elena Baralla, Ignacio Contreras-Solís, Francesca Daniela Sotgiu, Fiammetta Berlinguer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04762-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849312001310851072
author Valeria Pasciu
Maria Nieddu
Elena Baralla
Ignacio Contreras-Solís
Francesca Daniela Sotgiu
Fiammetta Berlinguer
author_facet Valeria Pasciu
Maria Nieddu
Elena Baralla
Ignacio Contreras-Solís
Francesca Daniela Sotgiu
Fiammetta Berlinguer
author_sort Valeria Pasciu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In recent years, the use of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ω3 and ω6, as food supplements in livestock has increased due to their beneficial properties related to their antioxidant activity. It has been demonstrated however that a high intake of these substances has prooxidant and cell-damaging effects, especially if their circulating concentrations are unbalanced. Starting from these premises, and taking advantage of previous findings, the present study aimed at defining the optimal circulating concentrations and PUFAs ω3/ω6 ratio, to ensure the antioxidant/oxidant balance in sheep RBCs. Results All tested concentrations (25–300 µg/mL in PBS) of PUFAs-ω3 after 4 h of treatment on sheep RBCs, showed antioxidant properties with a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) versus the control group (CTRL) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ω6 showed an antioxidant effect at low concentrations (25–200 g/mL) but a pro-oxidant effect at the highest concentrations (250 and 300 µg/mL) with a significant increase in ROS production (123.6 ± 2.1 and 131.4 ± 6.5% sloope RFU of CTRL respectively p < 0,001), malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.01), and haemolysis (p < 0.01) versus CTRL group (1.1 ± 0.1%), and, also with a decrease of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) (p < 0,05). The ratio ω3/ω6 of 1:10 (25/250 µg/mL) and 1:4 (25/100 µg/mL) showed an intracellular ROS level like the CTRL group whereas, the ratio 1:2 (100/200 µg/mL) resulted in a significant decrease in ROS production (62.71 ± 2.31% slope RFU of CTRL, p < 0.001) and MDA (p < 0.001), with an increase in TEAC (p < 0.05), and a decrease haemolysis versus the control group (p < 0,01). Conclusions Our results showed that a beneficial effect on the oxidative state of sheep RBCs was obtained with in vitro administration of low concentrations of ω6 and with all tested concentrations of ω3. The addition of ω6 at high concentrations leads to an imbalance in the PUFA ω3/ω6 ratio, compromising the oxidative state and viability of the RBCs. The maximum antioxidative effect was found at ω3/ω6 ratio 1:2).
format Article
id doaj-art-27eeeb0fd26a48e79f385c3ea29eb8a0
institution Kabale University
issn 1746-6148
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Veterinary Research
spelling doaj-art-27eeeb0fd26a48e79f385c3ea29eb8a02025-08-20T03:53:13ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482025-05-0121111010.1186/s12917-025-04762-4Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytesValeria Pasciu0Maria Nieddu1Elena Baralla2Ignacio Contreras-Solís3Francesca Daniela Sotgiu4Fiammetta Berlinguer5Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of SassariDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of SassariDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of SassariDepartment of Agronomy, Biotechnology and Food, University of NavarreDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of SassariDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of SassariAbstract Background In recent years, the use of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ω3 and ω6, as food supplements in livestock has increased due to their beneficial properties related to their antioxidant activity. It has been demonstrated however that a high intake of these substances has prooxidant and cell-damaging effects, especially if their circulating concentrations are unbalanced. Starting from these premises, and taking advantage of previous findings, the present study aimed at defining the optimal circulating concentrations and PUFAs ω3/ω6 ratio, to ensure the antioxidant/oxidant balance in sheep RBCs. Results All tested concentrations (25–300 µg/mL in PBS) of PUFAs-ω3 after 4 h of treatment on sheep RBCs, showed antioxidant properties with a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) versus the control group (CTRL) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ω6 showed an antioxidant effect at low concentrations (25–200 g/mL) but a pro-oxidant effect at the highest concentrations (250 and 300 µg/mL) with a significant increase in ROS production (123.6 ± 2.1 and 131.4 ± 6.5% sloope RFU of CTRL respectively p < 0,001), malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.01), and haemolysis (p < 0.01) versus CTRL group (1.1 ± 0.1%), and, also with a decrease of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) (p < 0,05). The ratio ω3/ω6 of 1:10 (25/250 µg/mL) and 1:4 (25/100 µg/mL) showed an intracellular ROS level like the CTRL group whereas, the ratio 1:2 (100/200 µg/mL) resulted in a significant decrease in ROS production (62.71 ± 2.31% slope RFU of CTRL, p < 0.001) and MDA (p < 0.001), with an increase in TEAC (p < 0.05), and a decrease haemolysis versus the control group (p < 0,01). Conclusions Our results showed that a beneficial effect on the oxidative state of sheep RBCs was obtained with in vitro administration of low concentrations of ω6 and with all tested concentrations of ω3. The addition of ω6 at high concentrations leads to an imbalance in the PUFA ω3/ω6 ratio, compromising the oxidative state and viability of the RBCs. The maximum antioxidative effect was found at ω3/ω6 ratio 1:2).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04762-4Sheep erythrocytesPUFAs-ω3PUFAs-ω6Oxidative stressReactive oxygen speciesAntioxidant assays
spellingShingle Valeria Pasciu
Maria Nieddu
Elena Baralla
Ignacio Contreras-Solís
Francesca Daniela Sotgiu
Fiammetta Berlinguer
Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes
BMC Veterinary Research
Sheep erythrocytes
PUFAs-ω3
PUFAs-ω6
Oxidative stress
Reactive oxygen species
Antioxidant assays
title Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes
title_full Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes
title_fullStr Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes
title_full_unstemmed Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes
title_short Effect of PUFAs-ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes
title_sort effect of pufas ω3 and ω6 on oxidative stress of sheep erythrocytes
topic Sheep erythrocytes
PUFAs-ω3
PUFAs-ω6
Oxidative stress
Reactive oxygen species
Antioxidant assays
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04762-4
work_keys_str_mv AT valeriapasciu effectofpufasō3andō6onoxidativestressofsheeperythrocytes
AT marianieddu effectofpufasō3andō6onoxidativestressofsheeperythrocytes
AT elenabaralla effectofpufasō3andō6onoxidativestressofsheeperythrocytes
AT ignaciocontrerassolis effectofpufasō3andō6onoxidativestressofsheeperythrocytes
AT francescadanielasotgiu effectofpufasō3andō6onoxidativestressofsheeperythrocytes
AT fiammettaberlinguer effectofpufasō3andō6onoxidativestressofsheeperythrocytes