[Omega-3 fatty acids and acetylcysteine diet supplementation effects on learning performance]. / Efectele suplimentarii dietei cu acizi grasi polinesaturati omega 3 si acetilcisteina asupra performantei în învatare.

UNLABELLED: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health, are crucial for the brain, body development and also in prevention of cardiovascular diseases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We used 60 male Wistar fats, weight 180 +/- 20 grams, divided into two study groups: normal control animals (M) and test animals (T) divided in groups I (N3-PUFA), II (ACC) and III (N3-PUFA and ACC). Administration of the substances was made for 36 weeks (nine months), after which the animals were evaluated and subsequently sacrificed for further biochemical analysis. As an evaluation method has been used multiple T maze labyrinth. RESULTS: Group I recorded a time maze percentage decrease from -4.26% to -33.88%. In group II we recorded a decrease time maze percentage from -5.37% to -34.28%. During the experiment, group III recorded a decrease time maze percentage from -5.1% to -32.33% at the end of the experiment. The control group evolution for the maze recorded a decrease in time maze percentage, reaching 17-18% at the end of the experiment. CONCLUSION: By improving the diet with polyunsaturated fatty acids increased exponentially cognitive performance compared with normal diet, low in these acids.

[Nutritional antioxidant effects on endotelial dysfunctions in experimental atherosclerosis by ovariectomy]. / Efectele antioxidantilor nutritionali asupra disfunctiei endoteliale in ateroscleroza experimentala prin ovariectomie.

UNLABELLED: Endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis involves a general alteration of unicellular layer of the vascular wall structure. Nutritional antioxidants can improve endothelial dysfunction through dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA N3 and lignans) from flaxseed. The mechanisms by which these nutritional antioxidants have beneficial effects on endothelial function are less known. AIM: The present study examined the effects of the flaxseed supplemented diet, a rich source in PUFA N3 and lignans on the ovariectomy-induced endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty-two ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized (control) female Wistar rats were used, each one divided in 3 subgroups depending on diet: standard, fat rich or flaxseed supplemented fat rich diet, for 36 weeks. The circulating soluble adhesion molecules of endothelial origin and von Willebrand factor (sVCAM-1, vWF), were measured to assess the endothelial dysfunction. RESULTS: Presence of endothelial dysfunction in ovariectomized animals fed with standard diet associated with a rich PUFA N6 and saturated lipid was proven by the increased plasma concentration of sVCAM-1 and vWE Dietary supplementation with PUFA N3 and lignans (flaxseed) in these animals led to modest decreases of these parameters. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that dietary supplementation with antioxidant activity substances, in presence of estrogen deficiency, especially when it is associated with increased fat intake, may become a mean of prevention and delay of endothelial dysfunction, via anti-inflammatory actions through a reduction of sVCAM-1.