Supplementation with fish oil affects the association between very long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum non-esterified fatty acids and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1.
We have investigated the effect of fish oil supplementation on the association between serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) pattern and atherosclerotic activity. We studied correlations between serum non-esterified very long-chain eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) and biochemical markers of endothelial activation before and after 18-months intervention with fish oil supplementation. The fish oil supplementation consisted of 2.4 g of EPA and DHA per day, with corn oil as placebo. Elderly men ( n =171) with high risk for coronary heart disease were divided into four intervention groups in a factorial design: fish oil supplementation ( n =44), dietary intervention ( n =42), fish oil supplementation+dietary intervention ( n =47) or placebo ( n =38). The composition of fasting NEFA was analysed before and after intervention by GLC. Circulating endothelial markers were analysed by ELISA. A statistically significant positive correlation between the change in serum non-esterified DHA and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) was found in the pooled group that received fish oil supplementation ( n =91; Spearman's correlation coefficient r =0.24, P =0.02). No such correlation was found in the pooled group without fish oil supplementation ( n =80). Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between the change in serum non-esterified EPA and the relative change in sVCAM-1 in the group that did not receive fish oil supplementation ( r =-0.34, P =0.002). No such correlation was found in the group with fish oil supplementation. We conclude that large increase in serum non-esterified EPA and DHA, which can only be attained by supplementation, might increase inflammation in vascular endothelium. A moderate dietary increase in fish oil intake may, however, have an effect on decreasing inflammatory markers.
Berstad
Paula
P
Institute for Nutrition Research, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1046 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.
Seljeflot
Ingebjørg
I
Veierød
Marit B
MB
Hjerkinn
Elsa M
EM
Arnesen
Harald
H
Pedersen
Jan I
JI
D000368:Aged; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid