Effects of n-3 PUFA in the adolescent period on brain plasticity and behavior.

目前的研究计划将扩大添加omega-3多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3 PUFA)的饮食对大脑功能和行为重塑的研究。大脑的发育和功能严重依赖于人体无法轻易合成的必需脂肪酸的摄取。鱼油是长链n-3多不饱和脂肪酸的主要饮食来源。鲑鱼是一种丰富的饮食来源，标准化的高级药用鱼油配方也很容易供人类食用。在对照研究中评估n-3多不饱和脂肪酸的作用是一个重要的问题，因为西方社会对加工食品的消费不断增长，导致n-3缺乏和不成比例的n-6/n-3多不饱和脂肪酸比率过高，这已被证明是大脑活动的失调。孕期丰富的n-3多不饱和脂肪酸饮食可促进神经元和认知发育，对老年动物或脑损伤后的认知功能和神经可塑性/保护起到有益的作用。最近，人类研究报告了n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对青少年认知和情绪的有益影响，这种影响在男孩和女孩中表现出不同。青春期是大脑成熟的关键时期，突触的重要重塑和神经化学系统的重组是这一时期的特征。因此，令人惊讶的是，n-3多不饱和脂肪酸在这一发育阶段的影响尚未在对照研究中确定。这笔赠款将调查青少年n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对认知和学习诱导可塑性的影响，确定n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对中皮质边缘奖赏系统的影响以及社会和情绪行为的附属变化。我们还将确定调节饥饿和饱腹感的大脑信号的变化，或对食物的享乐反应。考虑到青春期重要的性二型激素变化，以及女性更容易患上情绪障碍的事实，我们的研究包括男性和女性。这项研究的发现将有助于确定n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对不同大脑系统及其调节的行为的功能可塑性的影响。这项研究将有助于确定n-3多不饱和脂肪酸在青春期的益处。

The current research program will expand the study of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplemented diets on remodelling of brain function and behavior. Brain development and function is critically dependent on the intake of essential fatty acids that cannot be readily synthesized by the human body. Fish oil is the principal dietary source of the longer-chain n-3 PUFA. Salmon is a rich dietary source, and standardized, high-grade pharmaceutical fish oil formulations are also easily available for human consumption. Assessment of the role of n-3 PUFA in controlled studies is an important question considering the growing consumption of processed foods in Western world societies, which result in n-3 deficiency and disproportionately high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio which has been shown to dysregulate brain activity. It is well acknowledged that n-3 PUFA rich diet during the gestational period promotes neuronal and cognitive development, as well as exerts beneficial effects on cognitive function and neuroplasticity/ protection in aged animals or consequent to brain injury. Recently, human studies have reported beneficial effects of n-3 PUFA on cognition and mood in adolescents, which appear different in boys and girls. The adolescent period is a critical period for brain maturation and important remodelling of synapses and reorganization of neurochemical systems characterize this period. Therefore, it is surprising that effects of n-3 PUFA during this developmental stage has not been determined in controlled studies. This grant will investigate effects of adolescent n-3 PUFA on cognition and learning-induced plasticity, determine n-3 PUFA effects on the mesocorticolimbic reward system and affiliated changes in social and emotional behavior. We also will determine changes in brain signals regulating hunger and satiety, or hedonic response to food. Considering important sexually-dimorphic hormonal changes in the pubertal period and the fact that females are more susceptible to develop mood disorders, our studies include both males and females. Findings from this research will help determine effects of n-3 PUFA on functional plasticity of distinct brain systems and behavior that they regulate. This research will help determine benefits of n-3 PUFA in the juvenile period.