Dietary alpha-linolenic acid decreases C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and interleukin-6 in dyslipidaemic patients.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. We examined whether dietary supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) affects the levels of inflammatory markers in dyslipidaemic patients.


METHODS
We recruited 76 male dyslipidaemic patients (mean age=51+/-8 years) following a typical Greek diet. They were randomly assigned either to 15 ml of linseed oil (rich in ALA) per day (n=50) or to 15 ml of safflower oil (rich in linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6)) per day (n=26). The ratio of n-6:n-3 in linseed oil supplemented group was 1.3:1 and in safflower oil supplemented group 13.2:1. Dietary intervention lasted for 3 months. Blood lipids and C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined prior and after intervention. CRP and SAA were measured by nephelometry and IL-6 by immunoassay.


RESULTS
Dietary supplementation with ALA decreased significantly CRP, SAA and IL-6 levels. The median decrease of CRP was 38% (1.24 vs. 0.93 mg/l, P=0.0008), of SAA 23.1% (3.24 vs. 2.39 mg/l, P=0.0001) and of IL-6 10.5% (2.18 vs. 1.7 pg/ml, P=0.01). The decrease of inflammatory markers was independent of lipid changes. Dietary supplementation with LA did not affect significantly CRP, SAA and IL-6 concentrations but decreased cholesterol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary supplementation with ALA for 3 months decreases significantly CRP, SAA and IL-6 levels in dyslipidaemic patients. This anti-inflammatory effect may provide a possible additional mechanism for the beneficial effect of plant n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.
Rallidis
Loukianos S
LS
Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Nikea, Piraeus, Greece. rallidis@ath.forthnet.gr
Paschos
Georgios
G
Liakos
Georgios K
GK
Velissaridou
Aggeliki H
AH
Anastasiadis
Georgios
G
Zampelas
Antonis
A
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein