Long-term dietary supplementation with plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid improves outcome in experimental ischemic stroke

Background and aimsEarly revascularization -the gold standard therapy for ischemic stroke- is often withheld in the elderly population due to high risk of complications. Thus, safe effective preventive therapeutic options are needed. The plant-derived omega-3-fatty-acid alpha-linolenic-acid (ALA) has emerged as a novel cardiovascular-protective agent. As yet, little known about its potential effects on stroke. We hereby aimed investigate impact clinically relevant long-term dietary intervention with ALA stroke outcome.MethodsSix month-old C57BL/6 wildtype males were either fed an ALA-rich (high ALA) or control diet (low 12 months. At 18 months, brain ischemia/reperfusion was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Stroke size neurological function assessed. Functional blood-brain-barrier-(BBB) permeability protein expression assessed immunohistochemistry. Baseline inflammatory markers measured at months.ResultsHigh ALA-fed animals displayed decreased circulating TNF-α levels Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratios dysfunction significantly reduced animals. Coherently size, functional BBB integrity occludin endothelial maintained supplementation. Additionally, activation thus recruitment macrophages resident microglia. Finally, BBB-degrading neurotoxic MMP-3 MMP-9.ConclusionsWe demonstrate beneficial feasible readily available compound setting protective observed supplementation may relate blunting inflammation might pave way treatments.