Effects of docosahexaenoic acid-rich n-3 fatty acid supplementation on cytokine release from blood mononuclear leukocytes: the OmegAD study.
BACKGROUND
Dietary fish or fish oil rich in n-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs), eg, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), ameliorate inflammatory reactions by various mechanisms. Whereas most studies have explored the effects of predominantly EPA-based n-3 FAs preparations, few have addressed the effects of n-3 FAs preparations with DHA as the main FA.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine the effects of 6 mo of dietary supplementation with an n-3 FAs preparation rich in DHA on release of cytokines and growth factors from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 174 Alzheimer disease (AD) patients received daily either 1.7 g DHA and 0.6 g EPA (n-3 FAs group) or placebo for 6 mo. In the present study blood samples were obtained from the 23 first randomized patients, and PBMCs were isolated before and after 6 mo of treatment.


RESULTS
Plasma concentrations of DHA and EPA were significantly increased at 6 mo in the n-3 FAs group. This group also showed significant decreases of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor secretion after stimulation of PBMCs with lipopolysaccharide. Changes in the DHA and EPA concentrations were negatively associated with changes in IL-1beta and IL-6 release for all subjects. Reductions of IL-1beta and IL-6 were also significantly correlated with each other. In contrast, this n-3 FA treatment for 6 mo did not decrease tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IotaL-8, IL-10, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
AD patients treated with DHA-rich n-3 FAs supplementation increased their plasma concentrations of DHA (and EPA), which were associated with reduced release of IL-1beta, IL-6, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor from PBMCs. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00211159.
Department of Medicine and the Division of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Research, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Inger
I
Vedin
Tommy
T
Cederholm
Yvonne
Y
Freund Levi
Hans
H
Basun
Anita
A
Garlind
Gerd
G
Faxén Irving
Maria Eriksdotter
ME
Jönhagen
Bengt
B
Vessby
Lars-Olof
LO
Wahlund
Jan
J
Palmblad
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male
D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D006133:Growth Substances; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids