Effects of supplemental long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid content on circulating inflammatory markers in a randomized controlled trial of healthy adults

The long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated (n-3 PUFA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may have anti-inflammatory effects. We evaluated the dose-response effect of EPA+DHA supplementation on circulating TNF-alpha, IL-6, and CRP and explored associations between red blood cell (RBC) membrane PUFA content and TNF-alpha, IL-6, and CRP. Young adults with low fish intake (n= 116) received one of five doses (0, 300, 600, 900, or 1,800 mg/d EPA+DHA) for 5 months. There were no significant effects of supplemental EPA+DHA on IL-6 or CRP; however, there was a marginal treatment effect for TNF-alpha (p < 0.08). At baseline, higher quartiles of RBC DHA were associated with lower TNF-alpha (p=0.001); higher quartiles of arachidonic acid were associated with higher TNF-alpha (p=0.005). EPA+DHA supplementation had no dose-response effect on TNF-alpha, IL-6, or CRP in healthy young adults; however, associations between inflammatory markers and RBC PUFA warrant further investigation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.