Long-Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Attenuate the Severity of Obesity-Associated White Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder defined by a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, excess adipose tissue accumulation, chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, leading to increased susceptibility to other chronic conditions. Evidence from both mechanistic pre-clinical studies and human clinical trial suggests a role for long-chain (LC) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), to modulate obesity-associated outcomes and attenuate the production of inflammatory mediators, namely adipokines from adipose tissue and myokines from skeletal muscle, that can mitigate inflammation-associated metabolic dysfunction. Therefore, this narrative review synthesizes evidence and mechanistic insights on the role(s) of n-3 PUFA in regulating obesity-associated changes in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle inflammation and immune cell trafficking and metabolic outcomes.