Higher Omega-3 Index Is Associated with Better Asthma Control and Lower Medication Dose: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease, associated with systemic inflammation. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have established anti-inflammatory effects, thus having potential as an adjunct therapy in asthma. This study aimed to compare erythrocyte n-3 PUFA in adults with (n = 255) and without (n = 137) asthma and determine the relationship between erythrocyte n-3 PUFA and clinical asthma outcomes. Subjects had blood collected, lung function measured and Juniper Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score calculated. Fatty acids were measured in erythrocyte membranes by gas chromatography, and the omega-3 index (O3I) was calculated (% eicosapentaenoic acid + % docosahexaenoic acid). O3I was similar in subjects with and without asthma (p = 0.089). A higher O3I was observed in subjects with controlled or partially controlled asthma (ACQ < 1.5) compared to subjects with uncontrolled asthma (ACQ ≥ 1.5) (6.0% (5.4–7.2) versus 5.6% (4.6–6.4) p = 0.033). Subjects with a high O3I (≥8%) had a lower maintenance dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) compared to those with a low O3I (<8%) (1000 μg (400–1000) versus 1000 μg (500–2000) p = 0.019). This study demonstrates that a higher O3I is associated with better asthma control and with lower ICS dose, suggesting that a higher erythrocyte n-3 PUFA level may have a role in asthma management.

Self-Reported Omega-3 Supplement Use Moderates the Association between Age and Exercising Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in Older Adults

“…Additionally, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found omega-3 supplementation decreased arterial stiffness in adults [35]. Finally, omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties [36][37][38], both of which could contribute to improved cerebrovascular health and higher blood flow during exercise in the older adults in the present study who reported taking supplements.…”

An in vitro study to explore the modulation of eosinophil effector function in human allergic peripheral blood eosinophils using enzymatically extracted salmonid oil

“…On the one hand, the physiological changes that accompany inflammation allow us to mount an acute response to external threats that can lead to pandemics, such as the current SARS-Cov-2 infection, while on the other hand, chronic inflammation, where age or external stressors keep our immune system in exaggerated overdrive, contributes to many debilitating diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to diabetes to bronchial asthma. Fish oil supplementation for the potential control of bronchial asthma symptoms has been described in numerous publications [1] [2]. Although early studies suggested that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs) found in standard fish oils may reduce the risk and symptoms of asthma, the epidemiological data with fish oil supplementation remains inconclusive.…”

Overconsumption of Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) versus Deficiency of Omega-3 PUFAs in Modern-Day Diets: The Disturbing Factor for Their “Balanced Antagonistic Metabolic Functions” in the Human Body

“…The higher the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs in platelet PLs, the higher the death rate from cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus due to the higher production of proinflammatory agents in the body [87]. In contrast, a lower ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs is desirable in reducing the risk of many of the chronic diseases [15,76,[88][89][90].…”