Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation in healthy middle-aged and older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Observational studies have linked lower levels of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with inflammation and depression. This study was designed to determine whether n-3 supplementation would decrease serum cytokine production and depressive symptoms in 138 healthy middle-aged and older adults (average age=51.04, SD=7.76) who were sedentary and overweight (average BMI=30.59, SD=4.50). This three-arm randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 4-month trial compared responses to (1) 2.5 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (2) 1.25 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (3) placebo capsules that mirrored the proportions of fatty acids in the typical American diet. Serum interleukin-6 decreased by 10% and 12% in our low and high dose n-3 groups, respectively, compared to a 36% increase in the placebo group. Similarly, low and high dose n-3 groups showed modest 0.2% and -2.3% changes in serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, compared to a 12% increase in the control group. Depressive symptoms were quite low at baseline and did not change significantly in response to supplementation. Our data suggest that n-3 PUFAs can reduce inflammation in overweight, sedentary middle-aged and older adults, and thus could have broad health benefits. These data provide a window into the ways in which the n-3 PUFAs may impact disease initiation, progression, and resolution. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00385723.

• Authors: Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser, Martha A Belury, Rebecca Andridge, William B Malarkey, Beom Seuk Hwang, Ronald Glaser
• Journal: Brain, behavior, and immunity (Brain Behav Immun) Vol. 26 Issue 6 Pg. 988-95 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1090-2139 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22640930 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Fatty Acids
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Interleukin-6
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Body Weight (physiology)
• Depression (psychology)
• Dietary Supplements
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Fatty Acids (analysis)
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Female
• Health Behavior
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Overweight (blood, physiopathology)
• Sample Size
• Sedentary Behavior
• Treatment Outcome
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (analysis)
• Waist Circumference