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Scientific reports2025; 15(1); 43295; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03271-6

Impact of dietary essential fatty acids on phospholipid composition and mitochondrial function in aged mares.

Abstract: Advancing age is associated with a decline in fertility and functional capacity, which may result in part from suboptimal nutrition and impaired mitochondrial function. Dietary essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are broadly recommended to mitigate weight loss and reduce risk of chronic disease in aged populations, but their effects on mitochondrial function are less clear. The present study investigated the impacts of dietary supplementation with essential omega-3 PUFA (flaxseed oil; N3) or omega-6 PUFA (corn oil, N6) on blood, muscle and follicular cell fatty acid composition and mitochondrial function in aged light-horse mares (23.2 ± 1.1 year), which are excellent models of human reproductive aging and a focus of dietary interventions in the equine industry. Diets were fed for 6 weeks before adding a supplemental supportive nutrient formulation (DS) designed to optimize equine metabolic health for another 6 weeks. Results demonstrate tissue-specific effects of the dietary oils on mitochondrial function, most notably a decrease in oxidative capacity of platelets and muscle, and greater release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from granulosa cells and muscle, with no significant difference in effects between N3 and N6 diets. Addition of the DS improved oxidative phosphorylation efficiency and tended to reduce ROS release across all cell types, and increased basal oocyte oxygen consumption. Taken together, these results provide novel insight to the diverse impacts of dietary PUFA intake on equine mitochondrial function, and suggest that supportive nutrients may be required to prevent negative health effects of dietary oil supplementation in aged mares.
© 2025. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2025-12-05 PubMed ID: 41350304PubMed Central: PMC12686463DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-03271-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study examines how dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids, specifically omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), affects phospholipid composition and mitochondrial function in aged mares.
  • The research evaluates changes in blood, muscle, and follicular cells, and assesses whether a supportive nutrient formulation can improve mitochondrial health and reduce oxidative stress in these animals.

Background and Rationale

  • Aging in mares, similar to humans, is linked to decreased fertility and reduced physical function.
  • One potential cause of decline in function is mitochondrial dysfunction, which affects cells’ energy production and leads to increased oxidative stress.
  • Essential PUFAs (omega-3 and omega-6) are often recommended to support health in aged populations, but their specific effects on mitochondria are not well understood.
  • Aged mares are a valuable model for studying reproductive aging and nutritional interventions relevant to both animal and potentially human health.

Study Design and Methods

  • Subjects: Aged light-horse mares averaging 23.2 years old.
  • Dietary Intervention:
    • Six weeks on either omega-3 PUFA supplement (flaxseed oil, N3) or omega-6 PUFA supplement (corn oil, N6).
    • Followed by six weeks with the addition of a supportive nutrient formulation (DS) designed to optimize equine metabolic health.
  • Tissue Sampling: Blood platelets, muscle tissue, and follicular cells were analyzed.
  • Measurements:
    • Fatty acid composition in phospholipids.
    • Mitochondrial function including oxidative capacity and oxidative phosphorylation efficiency.
    • Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicators of oxidative stress.
    • Basal oxygen consumption rates, especially in oocytes.

Key Findings

  • Tissue-Specific Effects:
    • Both N3 and N6 diets decreased mitochondrial oxidative capacity in platelets and muscle tissue.
    • There was an increase in ROS production from granulosa cells and muscle, indicating higher oxidative stress.
    • No significant differences were observed between omega-3 and omega-6 supplementation regarding these mitochondrial changes.
  • Impact of Supportive Nutrient Formulation (DS):
    • Improved the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation across examined cell types, suggesting better mitochondrial energy production.
    • Tended to reduce ROS release, pointing to decreased oxidative stress.
    • Increased basal oxygen consumption specifically in oocytes, implying enhanced cellular metabolic activity relevant to fertility.

Interpretation and Implications

  • Dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids alone may impair mitochondrial function and increase oxidative stress in aged mares, regardless of the omega-3 or omega-6 source.
  • The addition of targeted supportive nutrients appears to mitigate these negative effects by boosting mitochondrial efficiency and lowering oxidative damage.
  • This suggests that essential PUFA supplementation in aged populations may require concurrent nutrient support to avoid adverse effects on cellular metabolism.
  • The findings provide valuable insights for managing reproductive and metabolic aging in mares and potentially guide nutritional strategies in other aging animals and humans.

Conclusions

  • The study reveals the complex role of dietary essential fatty acids on mitochondrial health in aged mares.
  • Supportive nutrient formulations can offset some negative consequences of PUFA supplementation, improving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress.
  • These results emphasize the need to consider combined nutritional strategies rather than isolated supplementation for maintaining health in aging individuals.

Cite This Article

APA
Fresa K, Catandi GD, Gonzalez-Castro R, Omar A, Whitcomb LA, Cheng MH, Chen TW, Carnevale EM, Chicco AJ. (2025). Impact of dietary essential fatty acids on phospholipid composition and mitochondrial function in aged mares. Sci Rep, 15(1), 43295. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03271-6

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 43295
PII: 43295

Researcher Affiliations

Fresa, Kyle
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1680, USA.
Catandi, Giovana D
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1680, USA.
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA.
Gonzalez-Castro, Raul
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1680, USA.
Omar, Asma
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1680, USA.
Whitcomb, Luke A
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1680, USA.
Cheng, Ming-Hao
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
Chen, Thomas W
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
Carnevale, Elaine M
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1680, USA.
Chicco, Adam J
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1680, USA. Adam.chicco@colostate.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Phospholipids / metabolism
  • Aging / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Essential / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acids, Essential / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / administration & dosage
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Animal Feed
  • Diet

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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