The effect of diet enriched with alpha-linolenic acid on soluble cellular adhesion molecules in dyslipidaemic patients.
BACKGROUND
Leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration, the critical pathogenic components in the development of atherosclerotic lesions, are largely mediated by cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs). We examined whether dietary supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) affects the levels of soluble forms of CAMs in dyslipidaemic patients.


METHODS
We recruited 90 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=60) or to 15 ml of safflower oil (rich in linoleic acid [LA, 18:2n-6]) per day (n=30). 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 12 weeks. Blood lipids, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) were measured.


RESULTS
Dietary supplementation with ALA significantly decreased sVCAM-1 levels (median decrease 18.7% [577.5 ng/ml versus 487 ng/ml, P=0.0001]). In the LA supplemented group, sVCAM-1 was also significantly decreased but to a lesser extent (median decrease 10.6% [550.5 ng/ml versus 496 ng/ml, P=0.0001]). After controlling for smoking habits, no significant difference was observed in the reduction of sVCAM-1 levels between the two treatment arms (P=0.205). The decrease of sVCAM-1 was independent of lipid changes in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary supplementation with ALA for 12 weeks significantly decreases sVCAM-1 levels in dyslipidaemic patients. This effect presents a potential mechanism for the beneficial effect of plant n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention of coronary artery disease. In addition, dietary supplementation with LA significantly decreases sVCAM-1 levels, an effect which requires further investigation.
Rallidis
Loukianos S
LS
Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Nikea, Piraeus, Greece. rallidis@ath.forthnet.gr
Paschos
Georgios
G
Papaioannou
Maria L
ML
Liakos
Georgios K
GK
Panagiotakos
Demosthenes B
DB
Anastasiadis
Georgios
G
Zampelas
Antonis
A
D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1