Rapeseed and Soy Lecithin As Food Additives Vectors of α-Linolenic Acid: Impacts on High-Fat Induced Adiposity, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota in Mice

Objectives Dietary synthetic emulsifiers have recently been shown to promote metabolic syndrome and alter gut microbiota. The effects of natural emulsifiers, such as vegetable lecithin, remain, however, poorly described. Our objective was to evaluate, in mice, the impact of soy and rapeseed lecithin, both rich in essential α-linolenic acid (ALA), when incorporated in high-fat (HF) Western diets on the bioavailability of ALA, as well as on HF-induced adiposity, inflammation and gut microbiota. Methods For 13 weeks, male Swiss mice (n = 72) were fed either a standard Chow diet, a control semi-synthetic HF-diet (25 wt% lipids) poor in ALA (HFC), or different ALA-enriched (4.7% of total fatty acids) HF-diets containing 0% lecithin (HFA-L0), a nutritional dose of soy or rapeseed lecithin (10 wt% of lipids; HFA-SL10, HFA-RL10), or a 20 wt% supplemental dose of RL (HFA-RL20). Histomorphology of the epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) was analysed; hepatic lipid composition was determined by GC-FID, gene expression by RT-PCR, and faecal microbiota composition by 16S sequencing. Results Within ALA-rich HF diets, the hepatic bioavailability of ALA was similar whether ALA was vectorised as lecithin (HFA-RL10, HFA-RL20, HFA-SL10) or as oil only (HFA-L0) (yet, all higher than HFC). Similarly to HFC, HFA-SL10 and HFA-RL20, but not HFA-RL10, increased body weight gain (P < 0.001), visceral adiposity (P < 0.001) and adipocyte hypertrophy (P < 0.05), compared to Chow. The addition of lecithin in HF-diets, regardless of origin or dose, cancelled the anti-inflammatory effect of ALA observed in HFA-L0 on the expression of genes involved in macrophage infiltration in the EAT (e.g., Tnfα, Cd11c). Only HFA-RL10 increased gut microbiota α-diversity compared to HFC (P < 0.05), and altered the abundance of several gut bacterial groups, such as Lachnospiraceae and Desulfovibrionaceae. Conclusions Although the incorporation of neither soy nor rapeseed lecithin in HF-diets improved ALA hepatic bioavailability, the two lecithins exerted differential metabolic effects in mice. At a nutritional dose, rapeseed lecithin, unlike soy lecithin, did not significantly enhance visceral adiposity comparatively to a Chow diet, and increased gut bacterial diversity. Rapeseed lecithin may therefore be considered as a promising food ingredient. Funding Sources ANRT CIFRE PhD grant (UMT ACTIA BALI).

Physicochemical, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Rapeseed Lecithin Liposomes Loading a Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Seed Extract

Vegetal waste materials were used to produce liposomes with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Differences in the chemical composition of rapeseed lecithin (LEC) and a partially purified phospholipid fraction (PPL) were studied in terms of fatty acids (neutral lipids, free fatty acids, and phospholipids), sterols, tocopherols, and amino acid composition. Neutral lipids, campesterol, β-sitosterol, and γ-tocopherol were the most depleted compounds in PPL. Qualitative differences between LEC and PPL were revealed by infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. An ethanol/water antioxidant extract from chia seeds (ChE), with a high content in rosmarinic acid and rosmarinic acid 3-O-glucoside, along with other minor phenolic acids determined by HPLC-MS, was encapsulated in liposomes made of LEC (L-LEC) and PPL (L-PPL) with an entrapment efficiency of 61.3% and 69.3%, respectively. L-PPL suspensions showed smaller particle size and lower ζ potential than their L-LEC counterparts, along with noticeable particle destabilization after 7 days of storage. Antioxidant properties were greater in L-LEC than in L-PPL suspensions. L-LEC, ChE, and lecithin empty liposomes (L-E) showed no cytotoxic effect in either Caco-2 or THP-1 cells and induced downregulation of the inflammation response.

Encapsulation of Berberis vulgaris Anthocyanins into Nanoliposome Composed of Rapeseed Lecithin: A Comprehensive Study on Physicochemical Characteristics and Biocompatibility

In the present study, nanoliposomes composed of rapeseed lecithin were used for the encapsulation of anthocyanin compounds (AC). The nanoliposomes were prepared using hydration and ultrasound combined method, and the effect of AC concentration (4.5, 6.75, 9% w/w) on the characteristics of nanoliposomes including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of nanoliposomes with and without AC were studied. The results suggested the fabricated nanoliposomes had a size range of 141–196 nm, negative zeta potential and narrow particle size distribution. Further, the samples containing 9% extract had the maximum EE (43%). The results showed elevation of AC concentration resulted in increased particle size, PDI, EE, and surface charge of nanoparticles. The presence of AC extract led to diminished membrane fluidity through the hydrophobic interactions with the hydrocarbon chain of fatty acids. TEM images suggested that the nanoliposomes were nearly spherical and the AC caused their improved sphericity. Further, in vitro biocompatibility tests for human mesenchymal (MSC) and fibroblast (FBL) cells indicated nanoparticles were not toxic. Specifically, the best formulations with the maximum compatibility and bioavailability for MSC and FBL cells were AC-loaded nanoliposomes with concentrations of 0.5 mL/mg and 10.3 mL/µg and, respectively.

Rapeseed Lecithin Increases Lymphatic Lipid Output and α-Linolenic Acid Bioavailability in Rats

ABSTRACT Background Soybean lecithin, a plant-based emulsifier widely used in food, is capable of modulating postprandial lipid metabolism. With arising concerns of sustainability, alternative sources of vegetal lecithin are urgently needed, and their metabolic effects must be characterized. Objectives We evaluated the impact of increasing doses of rapeseed lecithin (RL), rich in essential α-linolenic acid (ALA), on postprandial lipid metabolism and ALA bioavailability in lymph-cannulated rats. Methods Male Wistar rats (8 weeks old) undergoing a mesenteric lymph duct cannulation were intragastrically administered 1 g of an oil mixture containing 4% ALA and 0, 1, 3, 10, or 30% RL (5 groups). Lymph fractions were collected for 6 h. Lymph lipids and chylomicrons (CMs) were characterized. The expression of genes implicated in intestinal lipid metabolism was determined in the duodenum at 6 h. Data was analyzed using either sigmoidal or linear mixed-effects models, or one-way ANOVA, where appropriate. Results RL dose-dependently increased the lymphatic recovery (AUC) of total lipids (1100 μg/mL·h per additional RL%; P = 0.010) and ALA (50 μg/mL·h per additional RL%; P = 0.0076). RL induced a faster appearance of ALA in lymph, as evidenced by the exponential decrease of the rate of appearance of ALA with RL (R2 = 0.26; P = 0.0064). Although the number of CMs was unaffected by RL, CM diameter was increased in the 30%-RL group, compared to the control group (0% RL), by 86% at 3–4 h (P = 0.065) and by 81% at 4–6 h (P = 0.0002) following administration. This increase was positively correlated with the duodenal mRNA expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (Mttp; ρ= 0.63; P = 0.0052). The expression of Mttp and secretion-associated, ras-related GTPase 1 gene homolog B (Sar1b, CM secretion), carnitine palmitoyltransferase IA (Cpt1a) and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (Acox1, beta-oxidation), and fatty acid desaturase 2 (Fads2, bioconversion of ALA into long-chain n–3 PUFAs) were, respectively, 49%, 29%, 74%, 48%, and 55% higher in the 30%-RL group vs. the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions In rats, RL enhanced lymphatic lipid output, as well as the rate of appearance of ALA, which may promote its subsequent bioavailability and metabolic fate.

Differential Metabolic Impact of Natural Food-Grade Emulsifiers Rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid

Objectives Dietary synthetic emulsifiers have recently been shown to promote metabolic syndrome and considerably alter gut microbiota. Conversely, natural emulsifiers such as milk polar lipids (PL) are associated with beneficial metabolic effects. The effects of plant PL remain, however, poorly described. Our objective was to evaluate, using two complimentary rodent models, the impact of nutritional doses of lecithin (≤10%) of vegetal sources alternative to soy on gut microbiota, postprandial lipid metabolism, and the bioavailability of an essential plant lipid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Methods For 5 days, male Swiss mice (n = 60) were fed normolipidic diets (identical ALA content) containing 0, 1, 3 or 10% rapeseed lecithin (RL) or 10% soy lecithin. Following an overnight fast, the mice were force-fed the same oil mix and euthanised after 90 min. As a mechanistic study, male Wistar rats (n = 30) with mesenteric duct cannulation were fed 5 oil mixtures containing 0 to 20% RL. Lymph fractions were collected up to 6 h post-gavage. Plasma and lymph lipid composition was determined using GC-FID, chylomicron (CM) size using light-scattering spectroscopy, and intestinal gene expression and faecal microbiota composition by RT-qPCR. Results In mice, the consumption of lecithin significantly increased levels of faecal Clostridium leptum (P < 0.001), regardless of lecithin origin or dose. The partial replacement of oil with lecithin did not significantly alter plasma total lipids nor the expression of genes of intestinal lipid absorption. The percentage of ALA in plasma triglycerides was significantly higher in the 10% RL group compared to other groups (P < 0.05). In rats, RL significantly and dose-dependently increased the rate of appearance (P < 0.01) and concentration of ALA in lymph (P < 0.01). 20% RL additionally increased CM size and expression of genes of CM secretion (Mttp, Sar1b; P < 0.05). Conclusions Our results reveal that, whereas both rapeseed and soy lecithin improved gut microbiota composition by increasing the anti-inflammatory Clostridium leptum bacterial group, only rapeseed lecithin enhanced ALA bioavailability. This study illustrates the importance of considering the use of natural emulsifiers, especially rapeseed lecithin, as plant-based food ingredients with potential health benefits. Funding Sources ANRT and UMT ACTIA BALI.

Nanoliposomes from Agro-Resources as Promising Delivery Systems for Chondrocytes

Investigations in cartilage biology have been hampered by the limited capacity of chondrocytes, especially in rats and humans, to be efficiently transfected. Liposomes are a promising delivery system due to their lipid bilayer structure similar to a biological membrane. Here we used natural rapeseed lecithin, which contains a high level of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, to evaluate the cytocompatibility of these phospholipids as future potential carriers of biomolecules in joint regenerative medicine. Results show that appropriate concentrations of nanoliposome rapeseed lecithin under 500 µg/mL were safe for chondrocytes and did not induce any alterations of their phenotype. Altogether, these results sustain that they could represent a novel natural carrier to deliver active substances into cartilage cells.