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The prophylactic potential of docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, in traumatic brain injury Kyndall Renae Nicholas
- Format:
- Book
- Thesis/Dissertation
- Author/Creator:
- Nicholas, Kyndall Renae, author.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Neurosciences.
- Nutrition.
- Bioengineering.
- Public health.
- 0317.
- 0570.
- 0202.
- 0573.
- Local Subjects:
- Neurosciences.
- Nutrition.
- Bioengineering.
- Public health.
- 0317.
- 0570.
- 0202.
- 0573.
- Genre:
- Academic theses
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (206 pages)
- Contained In:
- Dissertations Abstracts International 87-12B
- Place of Publication:
- Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 2026
- Language Note:
- English
- Summary:
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a worldwide public health problem that can result in cognitive deficits, neuropsychiatric disorders, or even death. Given the unpredictable and heterogeneous nature of TBI symptoms along with the lack of a standard of care for TBI, there is interest in developing prophylactic strategies. Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3 FAs), known for their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefits, are highly accessible in both dietary and supplementary sources. However, the information surrounding the effect of ω3 FA supplementation on the brain in response to TBI is highly inconsistent and not well understood. This thesis aims to build a foundation of information on this topic by exploring the effects of ω3 FA supplementation at the basic science level. The following studies involve investigating the lipidomic alterations that occur as a result of supplementation of ω3 FAs in vitro and in vivo. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation had the most effective incorporation into neural cells in vitro when compared to other ω3 FAs. Next, DHA was supplemented as both an unesterified fatty acid (FFA) and conjugated to lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in vivo. After 1 month, the lipidomic differences in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were observed following these two distinct supplementations. These brain regions were selected for their involvement in cognitive behavior improved by ω3 FA supplementation and their vulnerability in TBI. The findings revealed that the cortex was highly modified as a result of both LPC-DHA supplementation and FFA-DHA supplementation, while the hippocampus remained relatively unchanged. Post-TBI, the cortex experienced multiple lipidomic modifications in both supplemented and control animals, while the hippocampus of the supplemented animals maintained few changes. These results imply a strong neuroprotective potential of DHA supplementation against TBI in the hippocampus. Astonishingly, LPC-DHA and FFA-DHA supplemented brains appeared to engage different pathways for post-injury recovery, underlining that the form of DHA contributes immensely to the brain's injury response. Overall, nutrition remains a method of management for TBI symptoms and provides an accessible avenue as both an injury prophylactic and therapeutic. As the body of knowledge surrounding ω3 FAs for neural health grows, this thesis emphasizes the need for the specificity of the ω3 FAs used in future research and developments
- Notes:
- Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 87-12, Section: B.
- Advisors: Cullen, Daniel Kacy Committee members: Mesaros, Clementina; Cohen, Akiva; Meaney, David F.; LaPlaca, Michelle C.
- Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2026
- Vendor supplied data
- Local Notes:
- School code: 0175
- ISBN:
- 9798247979500
- Access Restriction:
- Restricted for use by site license
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