Genetically modified plants are an alternative to oily fish for providing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human diet: A summary of the findings of a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded project

A L West, E A Miles, K A Lillycrop, J A Napier, P C Calder, G C Burdge, A L West, E A Miles, K A Lillycrop, J A Napier, P C Calder, G C Burdge

Abstract

The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) present primarily in oily fish, namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important components of cell membranes and that are needed for normal development and cell function. Humans have very limited capacity for EPA and DHA synthesis from α-linolenic acid and so they must be obtained pre-formed from the diet. However, perceived unpalatability of oily fish and fish oil concerns about contamination with environmental pollutants, dietary choices that exclude fish and animal products, and price limit the effectiveness of recommendations for EPA and DHA intakes. Moreover, marine sources of EPA and DHA are diminishing in the face of increasing demands. Therefore, an alternative source of EPA and DHA is needed that is broadly acceptable, can be upscaled and is sustainable. This review discusses these challenges and, using findings from recent nutritional trials, explains how they may be overcome by seed oils from transgenic plants engineered to produce EPA and DHA. Trials in healthy men and women assessed the acute uptake and appearance in blood over 8 hours of EPA and DHA from transgenic Camelina sativa compared to fish oil, and the incorporation of these PUFA into blood lipids after dietary supplementation. The findings showed that postprandial EPA and DHA incorporation into blood lipids and accumulation in plasma lipids after dietary supplementation was as good as that achieved with fish oil. The oil derived from this transgenic plant was well tolerated. This review also discusses the implications for human nutrition, marine ecology and agriculture.

Keywords: human diet; nutrition; omega‐3 fatty acids; polyunsaturates; transgenic plant.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest with this review.

© 2020 The Authors. Nutrition Bulletin published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Nutrition Foundation.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in fish oil and in oils from transgenic (GM) plants that were engineered to synthesise EPA and DHA. Values from Tocher et al. (2019) and West et al. (2020a).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Postprandial incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into plasma lipids when consumed as blended fish oil or transgenic C. sativa oil. Values are mean ± SEM incremental area under the curve (iAUC) concentrations of EPA plus DHA over 8 hours in plasma. YF, young females; YM, young males; OF, older females; OM, older males. n = 10 participants per group. Data are from West et al. (2019).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Change from baseline of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in plasma lipids when consumed as blended fish oil or transgenic C. sativa oil. Values are mean ± SEM increments in EPA and DHA concentrations after dietary supplementation with these test oils for 8 weeks. n = 31 participants. Data are from West et al. (2020a).

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