Obesity: the anti-inflammatory action of fish oil is an excellent supportive therapy

New hope for those living with obesity: taking omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce the chronic inflammation of adipose tissue typical of obese individuals who do not suffer from diabetes. This is suggested by the results of research conducted at the Medical University of Vienna (Austria), where Bianca Itariu and colleagues completed the first controlled clinical study analyzing this problem, finding that treatment with Omega-3 reduces the expression of genes associated with inflammation. The research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

How much omega-3 is needed to reduce inflammation?

The Austrian researchers recruited 55 severely obese but non-diabetic patients, who were asked to take 3360 mg per day of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) fatty acids or 5 grams per day of butter for 8 weeks. At the end of this period, the expression of genes associated with inflammation was analyzed. It has long been known that chronic inflammation of adipose tissue is a typical feature of obesity that can lead to the development of diseases associated with severe overweight, such as type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, omega-3s, known for their protective properties for the heart and blood vessels, exert a strong anti-inflammatory action. The data show that in individuals taking these doses of omega-3, the levels of most genes associated with inflammation in adipose tissue decrease. 

Not only that, in these patients the production of molecules that counteract inflammation increases, while the levels of interleukin-6 (a marker of ongoing inflammation) and triglycerides harmful to cardiovascular health decrease. Finally, the ratio between Omega-6 and Omega-3, another marker of chronic inflammation associated with obesity, significantly decreases. Indeed, studies conducted over several decades have highlighted the importance of both the level of Omega-3 per se and their quantity relative to Omega-6. 

The latter, like Omega-3s, are essential fatty acids for the body, but they have a pro-inflammatory action. Unfortunately, the typical diet of Western countries is much richer in Omega-6 than in Omega-3, a factor which, according to experts, contributes to the spread of obesity and related problems such as metabolic syndrome.

Some reasonable doubts

According to experts, the results obtained in this study require further investigation. The main issue lies in the study design itself. The researchers chose 5 grams of butter as a comparison to Omega-3 treatment, and the fats in butter are inherently pro-inflammatory. However, the daily butter intake in the Austrian population is about 10 grams per person. 

This means that even patients who took 5 grams of butter might have had lower inflammation levels at the end of the 8-week treatment than at the start. Unfortunately, the study authors did not evaluate the inflammation of adipose tissue before the experiment began, so it is not possible to precisely quantify the effect of Omega-3 beyond the reduction in butter consumption.

Further research will be needed to shed light on this aspect and definitively verify whether Omega-3s represent a good therapeutic opportunity for the long-term treatment of obesity.

Source

Itariu BK, Zeyda M, Hochbrugger EE, Neuhofer A, Prager G, Schindler K, Bohdjalian A, Mascher D, Vangala S, Schranz M, Krebs M, Bischof MG, Stulnig TM, “Long-chain n-3 PUFAs reduce adipose tissue and systemic inflammation in severely obese nondiabetic patients: a randomized controlled trial”, J Clin Nutr. 2012 Oct 3. [Epub ahead of print]

Suggested by the results of research conducted at the Medical University of Vienna (Austria), where [Name] and colleagues carried out the first controlled clinical study to analyze this problem, finding that treatment with Omega-3 reduces the expression of genes associated with inflammation. The research was published in the pages of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.