LC n-3 PUFA supplementation for 12 weeks reduced CRP (P<0.05) and IL-6 (P<0.01), and had a significantly greater effect on AUC insulin in women with raised baseline inflammation (P<0.05).
RCT (n=30)
randomized crossover
Does LC n-3 PUFA supplementation improve insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease risk in overweight women with an inflammatory phenotype?
LC n-3 PUFA supplementation improves lipid and inflammatory profiles in overweight women, with greater insulin sensitivity benefits observed in those with a higher baseline inflammatory status.
p-value: p=<0.05
BACKGROUND: Inflammation is strongly related to obesity and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The metabolic benefits of long chain (LC) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) may be attributable to its anti-inflammatory properties. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether an individual's habitual inflammatory status influences the impact of a LC n-3 PUFA intervention on CVD risk. DESIGN: The study was a randomized crossover design. Subjects received LC n-3 PUFA capsules or a placebo for 12 weeks, with 4-week washout between phases. Thirty women, in the top and bottom tertiles of baseline sialic acid concentration, formed raised inflammatory status (top, n = 12) and reference (bottom, n = 18) groups. Baseline data were analysed using one-way anova, differences between treatment phases were calculated at each timepoint and analysed using a random effects model. RESULTS: At baseline, the raised inflammatory status group had significantly higher body mass index and area under the curve (AUC) insulin than the reference group. With LC n-3 PUFA supplementation, both groups showed significantly higher plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid at 4 and 12 weeks (p < 0.001), and lower triacylglycerols (4 weeks p < 0.01 and 12 weeks p < 0.05). The difference in AUC insulin between the two treatment phases at 12 weeks was significantly greater in the raised inflammatory status group compared to the reference group (p < 0.05). Inflammatory markers were significantly lower after 12 weeks LC n-3 PUFA supplementation compared to baseline (C-reactive protein p < 0.05 and interleukin-6 p < 0.01), but there was no significant group effect. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual inflammatory status influences the impact of LC n-3 PUFA supplementation, but it is not clear whether the effect of LC n-3 PUFA on AUC insulin is mediated through inflammatory mechanisms.
Browning et al. (2006) conducted an RCT in overweight women with an inflammatory phenotype (n=30). Long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC n-3 PUFA) vs. placebo was evaluated on Difference in AUC insulin between treatment phases at 12 weeks (p=<0.05). LC n-3 PUFA supplementation for 12 weeks reduced CRP (P<0.05) and IL-6 (P<0.01), and had a significantly greater effect on AUC insulin in women with raised baseline inflammation (P<0.05).