Basic and applied research of long-chained unsaturated fatty acid for preventing anti- arteriosclerosis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H04055
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: SAKAUE Hiroshi 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 教授 (60372645)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 黒田 雅士 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 特任助教 (00803579) ; 堤 理恵 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 講師 (80510172)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 一価不飽和脂肪酸 / 生活習慣病 / 抗動脈硬化作用 / 腸内細菌 / TMAO / GLP-1 / RCT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Healthy participants from the LCMUFA group in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center study showed improvements in endothelial function and a lower trimethylamine-N-oxide level, which is a predictor of coronary artery disease. LCMUFA significantly improved atherosclerotic lesions in mice with an improvement in the gut microbiota environment, as evident from the decreased ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, increase in the abundance of Akkermansia, and upregulation of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-induced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) expression and serum GLP-1 level. We also found the synergistic effects between LCMA and EPA with different actions. Fish oil-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids might thus help to protect against cardiovascular disease.

Free Research Field

代謝栄養学分野

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

極長鎖一価不飽和脂肪酸は既存のEPAやDHAとは異なるコレステロール低下作用などの代謝改善作用や動脈硬化発症の重症化を強力に予防する。EPAと異なる作用機序から優位性を有しており、本研究成果である抗動脈硬化作用の解明によって、極長鎖一価不飽和脂肪酸の新たな学術的な意義が得られた。海に囲まれ、世界でも有数の海域をもつ本邦の強みを活かした新たな産業基盤の創出として、魚由来の極長鎖一価不飽和脂肪酸に着目し、その生活習慣病に対する機能性の解明とする本研究成果は学術的な独自性のみでなく、新たな創造性をもって科学技術基本計画に沿った形で社会に貢献できる。