Intake of n-3 fatty acids from fish does not lower serum concentrations of C-reactive protein in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular risk. We hypothesised that n-3 fatty acids reduce underlying inflammatory processes and consequently CRP concentrations in healthy middle-aged subjects.


METHODS
Placebo-controlled, double-blind study.


METHODS
A total of 43 men and 41 postmenopausal women aged 50-70 y. Before and after intervention, we measured serum CRP concentrations with an enzyme immunoassay.


METHODS
Capsules with either 3.5 g/day fish oil (1.5 g/day n-3 fatty acids) or placebo for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
The median CRP change in the fish oil group did not significantly differ from that in the placebo group (0.01 vs -0.17 mg/l, P = 0.057).


CONCLUSIONS
The currently available data--including ours--do not support that beneficial effects on CRP are involved in a mechanism explaining the protective effect on heart disease risk of n-3 fatty acids as present in fish.
Geelen
A
A
Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. anouk.geelen@wur.nl
Brouwer
I A
IA
Schouten
E G
EG
Kluft
C
C
Katan
M B
MB
Zock
P L
PL
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017747:Seafood
D015415:Biomarkers; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D002097:C-Reactive Protein