Dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid, but not with other long-chain n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, decreases natural killer cell activity in healthy subjects aged >55 y - PubMed (original) (raw)

Clinical Trial

Dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid, but not with other long-chain n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, decreases natural killer cell activity in healthy subjects aged >55 y

F Thies et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Animal studies showed that dietary flaxseed oil [rich in the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)], evening primrose oil [rich in the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)], and fish oil [rich in the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] can decrease natural killer (NK) cell activity. There have been no studies of the effect on NK cell activity of adding these oils to the diet of humans.

Objective: Our objective was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with oil blends rich in ALA, GLA, arachidonic acid (AA), DHA, or EPA plus DHA (fish oil) on the NK cell activity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Design: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study was conducted. Healthy subjects aged 55-75 y consumed 9 capsules/d for 12 wk; the capsules contained placebo oil (an 80:20 mix of palm and sunflower seed oils) or blends of placebo oil and oils rich in ALA, GLA, AA, DHA, or EPA plus DHA. Subjects in these groups consumed 2 g ALA, 770 mg GLA, 680 mg AA, 720 mg DHA, or 1 g EPA plus DHA (720 mg EPA + 280 mg DHA) daily, respectively. Total fat intake from the capsules was 4 g/d.

Results: The fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids changed significantly in the GLA, AA, DHA, and fish oil groups. NK cell activity was not significantly affected by the placebo, ALA, GLA, AA, or DHA treatment. Fish oil caused a significant reduction (mean decline: 48%) in NK cell activity that was fully reversed by 4 wk after supplementation had ceased.

Conclusion: A moderate amount of EPA but not of other n-6 or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can decrease NK cell activity in healthy subjects.

PubMed Disclaimer

Cited by

Fish oil administration in older adults: is there potential for adverse events? A systematic review of the literature.
Villani AM, Crotty M, Cleland LG, James MJ, Fraser RJ, Cobiac L, Miller MD. Villani AM, et al. BMC Geriatr. 2013 May 1;13:41. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-13-41. BMC Geriatr. 2013. PMID: 23634646 Free PMC article. Review.
Dietary fat and heart failure: moving from lipotoxicity to lipoprotection.
Stanley WC, Dabkowski ER, Ribeiro RF Jr, O'Connell KA. Stanley WC, et al. Circ Res. 2012 Mar 2;110(5):764-76. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.253104. Circ Res. 2012. PMID: 22383711 Free PMC article. Review.
Effects of an Omega-3 and Vitamin D Supplement on Fatty Acids and Vitamin D Serum Levels in Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trials in Healthy and Crohn's Disease Populations.
Brennan Laing B, Cavadino A, Ellett S, Ferguson LR. Brennan Laing B, et al. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 18;12(4):1139. doi: 10.3390/nu12041139. Nutrients. 2020. PMID: 32325778 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
Effects of long-term oral administration of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on the immune functions of young rats.
Juman S, Hashimoto M, Katakura M, Inoue T, Tanabe Y, Arita M, Miki T, Shido O. Juman S, et al. Nutrients. 2013 May 29;5(6):1949-61. doi: 10.3390/nu5061949. Nutrients. 2013. PMID: 23760060 Free PMC article.
Contribution of Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain-like (NOD) Receptors to the Immune and Metabolic Health.
Apaza CJ, Días M, García Tejedor A, Boscá L, Laparra Llopis JM. Apaza CJ, et al. Biomedicines. 2024 Feb 1;12(2):341. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12020341. Biomedicines. 2024. PMID: 38397943 Free PMC article. Review.

Dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid, but not with other long-chain n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, decreases natural killer cell activity in healthy subjects aged >55 y - PubMed (original) (raw)