title: Inflammatory gene expression in whole blood cells after EPA vs. DHA supplementation: Results from the ComparED study.
abstract: Whether EPA and DHA exert similar anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of gene expression in immune cells remains unclear. The aim of the study was to compare the impact of EPA and DHA supplementation on inflammatory gene expression in subjects at risk for cardiometabolic diseases.
  
  
  
  In this randomized double-blind crossover trial, 154 men and women with abdominal obesity and low-grade inflammation were subjected to three 10-wk supplementation phases: 1) EPA (2.7 g/d); 2) DHA (2.7 g/d); 3) corn oil (3 g/d), separated by a 9-wk washout. Pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression was assessed in whole blood cells by RT-qPCR after each treatment in a representative sample of 44 participants.
  
  
  
  No significant difference was observed between EPA and DHA in the expression of any of the genes investigated. Compared with control, EPA enhanced TRAF3 and PPARA expression and lowered CD14 expression (p < 0.01) whereas DHA increased expression of PPARA and TNFA and decreased CD14 expression (p < 0.05). Variations in gene expression after EPA and after DHA were strongly correlated for PPARA (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001) and TRAF3 (r = 0.66, p < 0.0001) and less for TNFA (r = 0.46, p < 0.005) and CD14 (r = 0.16, p = 0.30).
  
  
  
  High-dose supplementation with either EPA or DHA has similar effects on the expression of many inflammation-related genes in immune cells of men and women at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. The effects of EPA and of DHA on anti-inflammatory gene expression may be more consistent than their effects on expression of pro-inflammatory genes in whole blood cells.
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vors
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Janie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allaire
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lépine
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charest
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Institut universitaire de cardiologique et de pneumologie du Québec (IUCPQ), Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tchernof
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.affiliation: Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF), Pavillon des Services, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: benoit.lamarche@fsaa.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamarche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D011792:Quebec; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Docosahexaenoic acid; Eicosapentaenoic acid; Immune cells; Inflammation; Omega-3; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha; TNF receptor associated factor 3