Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on inflammatory markers in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma in Alzheimer's disease: the OmegAD study.
BACKGROUND
omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3 FAs) found in dietary fish or fish oils are anti-inflammatory agents that may influence Alzheimer's disease (AD).


OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of dietary omega-3 FA supplementation on inflammatory markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from patients with mild to moderate AD.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients (70.3 +/- 8.2 years) were randomized to a daily intake of 2.3 g omega-3 FAs or placebo for 6 months. The inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and soluble interleukin-1 receptor type II (sIL-1RII) were analysed in CSF and plasma at baseline and at 6 months. The AD markers tau-protein, hyperphosphorylated tau-protein and beta-amyloid (Abeta(1-42)) were assessed in CSF. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was assessed in plasma. A possible relation to the APOE genotype was investigated.


RESULTS
There was no significant treatment effect of omega-3 FAs on inflammatory and AD biomarkers in CSF or on inflammatory markers in plasma, nor was there any relation with APOE. A significant correlation was observed at baseline between sIL-1RII and Abeta(1-42) levels in CSF.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of AD patients with omega-3 FAs for 6 months did not influence inflammatory or biomarkers in CSF or plasma. The correlation between sIL-1RII and Abeta(1-42) may reflect the reciprocal interactions between IL-1 and Abeta peptides.
Department NVS, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Yvonne.Freund-Levi@ki.se
Yvonne
Y
Freund-Levi
Erik
E
Hjorth
Catharina
C
Lindberg
Tommy
T
Cederholm
Gerd
G
Faxen-Irving
Inger
I
Vedin
Jan
J
Palmblad
Lars-Olof
LO
Wahlund
Marianne
M
Schultzberg
Hans
H
Basun
Maria
M
Eriksdotter Jönhagen
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000097:blood
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D016875:tau Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein