Inflammation is fought with marine Omega-3s
Omega-3 and Inflammation: How Fish Oil Reduces Inflammation in the Body
Marine-derived Omega-3 can reduce the concentration in the bloodstream of inflammatory signaling molecules such as C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor. This suggests that supplements containing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) could be used to prevent inflammation related to chronic diseases.
This is the result of a meta-analysis study conducted by researchers from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou (China), recently published in PlosOne.
Omega-3 Against Inflammation
The anti-inflammatory action of Omega-3 has been known for many years. EPA and DHA, abundant in fish oil, are precursors to molecules that reduce inflammatory processes. Inflammation is a defense reaction of the body to injury or infection. However, an excessive response can be responsible for various pathological conditions. Several studies have shown that inflammation is associated with many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. The inflammatory process involves an increased production of pro-inflammatory molecules such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP), produced by the liver in response to inflammation.
The Action of Omega-3 Supplements
For this meta-analysis, which examines data from multiple studies, 68 trials on the effects of Omega-3 involving a total of 4,601 participants were selected. Two of these studies involved patients with chronic autoimmune diseases, 48 included patients with chronic non-autoimmune diseases (at risk or diagnosed with cardiovascular disease). One study involved patients with both autoimmune and non-autoimmune chronic diseases. Another 17 studies involved healthy men and women. Among the trials with subjects affected by chronic non-autoimmune diseases, 44 included patients taking Omega-3 supplements, while 4 involved subjects consuming fish rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. All studies involving patients with autoimmune diseases or healthy subjects included Omega-3 supplementation. A joint analysis of all participants showed a significant association between the use of supplements and decreased blood levels of CRP and IL-6. Among those with chronic non-autoimmune diseases, there was a greater reduction in IL-6 and TNF-α levels associated with longer supplementation duration. A similar trend was shown for IL-6 in healthy subjects. The benefits of Omega-3 among patients with chronic non-autoimmune diseases appeared greater in non-obese subjects. Analyzing separately the studies in which subjects consumed fish as a source of Omega-3, an association was found between decreased IL-6 and higher fish consumption, while CRP or TNF-α levels did not decrease.
EPA and DHA Supplements Against Inflammation
The study demonstrates that marine-derived Omega-3 supplements reduce levels of inflammatory marker molecules, showing greater effects in non-obese subjects. These findings suggest that patients with chronic diseases could benefit from consecutive and long-term consumption of Omega-3 supplements. The study results also indicate that marine-derived supplements might prevent inflammation, considering the significant reduction of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in healthy subjects.
Source: Kelei Li, Tao Huang, Jusheng Zheng, Kejian Wu, Duo Li “Effect of Marine-Derived n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin 6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor α: A Meta-Analysis”: February 05, 2014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088103
