Experimental evidence that EPA and DHA are dietary requirements in a migratory shorebird, but they do not affect muscle oxidative capacity
- PMID: 38300135
- PMCID: PMC10911131
- DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246105
Experimental evidence that EPA and DHA are dietary requirements in a migratory shorebird, but they do not affect muscle oxidative capacity
Abstract
Dietary n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are hypothesized to be natural doping agents in migratory shorebirds, enabling prolonged flight by increasing membrane fluidity and oxidative capacity of the flight muscles. Animals can obtain n-3 LCPUFAs from the diet or by conversion of dietary α-linolenic acid, 18:3 n-3. However, the capacity to meet n-3 LCPUFA requirements from 18:3 n-3 varies among species. Direct tests of muscle oxidative enhancement and fatty acid conversion capacity are lacking in marine shorebirds that evolved eating diets rich in n-3 LCPUFAs. We tested whether the presence and type of dietary fatty acids influence the fatty acid composition and flight muscle oxidative capacity in western sandpipers (Calidris mauri). Sandpipers were fed diets low in n-3 PUFAs, high in 18:3 n-3, or high in n-3 LCPUFAs. Dietary fatty acid composition was reflected in multiple tissues, and low intake of n-3 LCPUFAs decreased the abundance of these fatty acids in all tissues, even with a high intake of 18:3 n-3. This suggests that 18:3 n-3 cannot replace n-3 LCPUFAs, and dietary n-3 LCPUFAs are required for sandpipers. Flight muscle indicators of enzymatic oxidative capacity and regulators of lipid metabolism did not change. However, the n-3 LCPUFA diet was associated with increased FAT/CD36 mRNA expression, potentially benefitting fatty acid transport during flight. Our study suggests that flight muscle lipid oxidation is not strongly influenced by n-3 PUFA intake. The type of dietary n-3 PUFA strongly influences the abundance of n-3 LCPUFAs in the body and could still impact whole-animal performance.
Keywords: Fatty acid nutrition; Flight muscle; Migration; Shorebird; n-3 PUFA.
© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids influence flight muscle oxidative capacity but not endurance flight performance in a migratory songbird.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Apr 1;316(4):R362-R375. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00206.2018. Epub 2019 Jan 9. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019. PMID: 30624975 Free PMC article.
-
Relationship between n-3 PUFA content and energy metabolism in the flight muscles of a migrating shorebird: evidence for natural doping.J Exp Biol. 2007 Feb;210(Pt 3):413-20. doi: 10.1242/jeb.02660. J Exp Biol. 2007. PMID: 17234610
-
The role of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in health and disease of the retina.Prog Retin Eye Res. 2005 Jan;24(1):87-138. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2004.06.002. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2005. PMID: 15555528 Review.
-
Performance-enhancing role of dietary fatty acids in a long-distance migrant shorebird: the semipalmated sandpiper.J Exp Biol. 2006 Jul;209(Pt 14):2686-95. doi: 10.1242/jeb.02299. J Exp Biol. 2006. PMID: 16809459
-
Essential fatty acid requirements of vegetarians in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy.Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Sep;70(3 Suppl):555S-559S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/70.3.555s. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999. PMID: 10479231 Review.
References
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Research Materials