Novel Approach to Enhancing Brain DHA Uptake: The Role of Nannochloropsis Microalgae Extract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays a pivotal role in sustaining the normal function of human brain and preventing metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Despite its significance, the bioavailability of DHA from current supplements is suboptimal due to limited uptake capacity of adult brain. Recent studies have highlighted the role of Mfsd2a transporter in facilitating brain uptake of DHA when esterified to lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC). Lyso-diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine (LDGTS), a betaine lipid that resembles LPC in structure and is abundant in Nannochloropsis microalgaeoil, presents a promising alternative for enhancing DHA uptake. This study aimed to examine whether LDGTS-containing microalgae oil can increase DHA level by the brain. We established 8 groups of mice fed with different lipid materials for comparison in addition to their regular diet. After 15 days of feeding, and tissue and organ samples of mice were collected for lipid extraction and fatty acid analysis. The mice fed a mixture of microalgae oil and triacylglycerol (TAG)-DHA showed a significant increase in DHA uptake in the brain compared to control. This effect was not observed when mice were administered with TAG-DHA alone, microalgae oil alone, or krill oil. The facilitation of DHA incorporation was accompanied by a notable enhancement of pathways related to cell growth and retinol metabolism in the brain, while pathways associated with cellular apoptosis and inflammation were downregulated. Thus, the inclusion of LDGTS-rich microalgae oil in DHA supplementation may offer a novel and effective strategy for improving the bioavailability of DHA in the brain.