Omega-3 Supplementation Lowers Inflammation in Healthy Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Belury MA, Andridge R, Malarkey WB, Hwang BS, Glaser R. (2012) Brain Behav Immunity 26(6) 988-95. Elsevier Inc
Web URL: View this and related research articles via PubMed here
Abstract:
Observational studies have linked lower levels of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with inflammation and depression.
This study was designed to determine whether n-3 supplementation would decrease serum cytokine production and depressive symptoms in 138 healthy middle-aged and older adults (average age=51.04, SD=7.76) who were sedentary and overweight (average BMI=30.59, SD=4.50).
This three-arm randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 4-month trial compared responses to (1) 2.5 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (2) 1.25 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (3) placebo capsules that mirrored the proportions of fatty acids in the typical American diet.
Serum interleukin-6 decreased by 10% and 12% in our low and high dose n-3 groups, respectively, compared to a 36% increase in the placebo group. Similarly, low and high dose n-3 groups showed modest 0.2% and -2.3% changes in serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, compared to a 12% increase in the control group. Depressive symptoms were quite low at baseline and did not change significantly in response to supplementation.
Our data suggest that n-3 PUFAs can reduce inflammation in overweight, sedentary middle-aged and older adults, and thus could have broad health benefits. These data provide a window into the ways in which the n-3 PUFAs may impact disease initiation, progression, and resolution.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00385723.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
In this randomised controlled trial, supplementation with the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and seafood (EPA and DHA) over a 4-month period significantly reduced markers of inflammation in middle-aged and older adults from the general population, most of whom were overweight or obese.In the placebo group, these inflammatory markers (serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha) increased over the trial period - However, supplementation with omega-3 (at either 1.25 or 2.5g/day) counteracted these changes.
Inflammation is now recognised as a contributory factor in most chronic, non-communicable health disorders - including both cardiovascular disease and depression. However, this study involved a generally healthy sample of adults - and although depressive symptoms were assessed, these were at low levels before treatment, so no effects of treatment on this secondary measure were seen.
These findings add to the existing evidence that an increased intake of EPA/DHA can help to reduce inflammation in otherwise healthy older adults from the general population.
Typical modern, western-type diets provide very little omega-3, and relative deficiencies in these essential fats are linked with a wide range of both physical and mental health disorders.
Controlled trials have already shown benefits of supplementation with omega-3 in some mental health conditions linked with inflammaton - most notably depression. Anti-inflammatory effects of EPA/DHA have been suggested as one possible mechanism contributing to any such benefits, although further studies directly testing this proposal are still needed.
For more details and comments from the researchers involved, see the related news article here:
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