THE EFFECTS OF OMEGA-3 AND VITAMIN D ON HT-22 HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONAL CELL METABOLIC ACTIVITY AND VIABILITY: A CONCENTRATION AND TIME-DEPENDENT STUDY

Objective: Neurodegenerative diseases are closely associated with oxidative stress and neuronal cell death. Nutritional factors such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D have been reported to influence neuronal health. This study aimed to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and their combinations on the proliferation of HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells. Methods: HT-22 cells were treated with different concentrations of omega-3 (10–50 μM), vitamin D (50–500 μM), and their combinations for 24 and 48 hours. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. Results: Low concentrations of omega-3 (10–20 μM) and vitamin D (50–100 μM), particularly in combination, significantly increased HT-22 cell viability. The most notable proliferative effects were observed at 24 hours with vitamin D (100 nM) + omega-3 (20 nM) and at 48 hours with vitamin D (50 μM) + omega-3 (20 μM). In contrast, high-dose combinations, especially those involving 500 μM vitamin D, decreased viability. Conclusion: These findings suggest that omega-3 and vitamin D, at optimal low concentrations, may synergistically enhance neuronal proliferation and could hold therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders.