Parenteral nutrition using Ahiflower lipid emulsion may offer hepatic protection and lower inflammation compared to fish oil, says recent study

Image courtesy of Nature's Crops International

A recently published animal study¹ found that the use of a novel lipid emulsion (branded Vegaven) in parenteral nutrition utilizing refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil (branded Ahiflower) as the main source of fatty acids had distinct advantages compared to conventional fish oil emulsions. This study builds on previous animal research conducted in mice that found the lipid emulsion made from Ahiflower was associated with significantly lower inflammation, improved insulin sensitivity, and improved gut microbiota, compared to that of soybean oil or fish oil.

In this more recent study, neonatal male piglets were randomly allocated to isocaloric isonitrogenous PN for 14 days with either Vevagen or fish oil emulsion. The primary outcome was Hepatic IL-10 tissue concentration, and secondary outcomes included “organ weights, bile flow, blood analyses, plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations, insulin signaling, proinflammatory cytokines, tissue lipopolysaccharide concentrations, and fatty acid composition of phospholipid fractions in plasma, liver, and brain.”

Results showed that the Ahiflower lipid emulsion protected the liver of piglets by increasing hepatic IL-10 levels. TNF-α was also significantly lower in the Vevagen group, while concentrations of IFN-γ were higher consistent with previous result on murine indicating that “higher hepatic IFN-γ concentrations were associated with primed T cells and enhanced immunity.” Results also showed that the Ahiflower lipid emulsion enhanced insulin signaling in the liver and improved whole body glucose control.

In a press release from Ahiflower’s manufacturer, Nature’s Crop International (NAI; Winston, NC) quotes a recent editorial² from a leading lipid metabolism researcher Prof Philip Calder who wrote: “In general, this new study shows superiority of the Ahiflower oil based emulsion over the fish oil containing emulsion… the findings suggest anti-inflammatory, immune supporting, insulin sensitizing and hepatoprotective effects of the Ahiflower oil emulsion relative to the comparator(s). These effects are all clinically relevant.”

Noting the consistency with previous research on murine, Calder writes, “The findings of the two studies indicate superiority of the Ahiflower oil blend over pure soybean oil, pure fish oil and an oil blend that includes fish oil in these preclinical models. The superiority of the Ahiflower oil-based emulsion over those containing fish oil is quite remarkable and requires explanation.”

References

1. Lucchinetti, E.; Lou, P.H.; Chakravarty, A.; Marcolla, C.S.; Pauline, M.L.; Wizzard, P.R.; Field, C.J.; Wine, E.; et al. The Novel Lipid Emulsion Vegaven Is Well Tolerated and Elicits Distinct Biological Actions Compared With a Mixed-Oil Lipid Emulsion Containing Fish Oil: A Parenteral Nutrition Trial in Piglets. The Journal of Nutrition. 2024. Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.10.047 (accessed 2024-01-08).
2. Calder, P.C. Novel lipid emulsion supports positive outcomes in piglets receiving total parenteral nutrition. The Journal of Nutrition. 2024. Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.12.015 (accessed 2024-01-08).