Long-term intake of Lacticaseibacillus helveticus enhances bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acids in the mouse retina

Omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are required for the structure and function of the retina. They could also help to prevent or delay the development of retinopathies. Given the accumulating evidence showing the role of gut microbiota in regulating retinal physiology and host lipid metabolism, we evaluated the potential of long-term dietary supplementation with the Gram-positive bacterium Lacticaseibacillus helveticus strain VEL12193 to modulate the retinal n-3 PUFA content. A set of complementary approaches was used to study the impact of such a supplementation on the gut microbiota and host lipid/fatty acid (FA) metabolism. L. helv…