title: Dietary fish oil supplementation alters leukocyte function and cytokine production in healthy women.
abstract: The effect of low-dose fish oil supplementation on cytokines and white cell function in women was investigated. Thirty-three healthy, nonsmoking women entered the double-blind study. For 4 weeks, 2.4 g of either fish oil (n = 16) or fish oil with vitamin E (n = 17) was added daily to the subjects' otherwise unchanged diets. Venous blood samples were taken at the onset of the trial, after the supplementation period, and again after a 9-week washout period. Plasma levels of platelet-derived growth factor and myeloperoxidase were measured using immunoassays. The intracellular peroxidase content of white blood cells was measured using a staining technique. Platelet-derived growth factor levels were significantly lowered after supplementation (P < or = .05). Intracellular peroxidase was increased (P < or = .01), and extracellular myeloperoxidase levels were lowered (P < or = .05). Taken together, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil may be due at least partly to alterations in white cell function and growth factor levels.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turley
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Strain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D009195:Peroxidase