Oral (n-3) Fatty Acid Supplementation Suppresses Cytokine Production and Lymphocyte Proliferation: Comparison between Young and Older Women

Abstract

The effect of (n-3) fatty acid supplementation on cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation was investigated in young (23-33 y) and older (51-68 y) women. Subjects supplemented their diets with 2.4 g of (n-3) fatty acid/d for 3 mo. Blood was collected before and after 1, 2 and 3 mo of supplementation. The (n-3) fatty acid supplementation reduced total interleukin (IL)-1 beta synthesis by 48% in young women but by 90% in older women; tumor necrosis factor was reduced by 58% in young and 70% in older women. Interleukin-6 was reduced in young women by 30% but by 60% in older women. Older women produced less IL-2 and had lower mitogenic responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) than young women prior to (n-3) fatty acid supplementation. The (n-3) fatty acid supplementation reduced IL-2 production in both groups; however, this reduction was significant only in older women. The PHA-stimulated mitogenic response was significantly reduced by (n-3) fatty acid in older women (36%). Thus, long-term (n-3) fatty acid supplementation reduced cytokine production in young women and cytokine production and T cell mitogenesis in older women. The reduction was more dramatic in older women than in young women. Although (n-3) fatty acid-induced reduction in cytokine production may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects, its suppression of IL-2 production and lymphocyte proliferation in older women may not be desirable.

The prevalence and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration in rural–urban India, Sankara Nethralaya Rural–Urban Age-related Macular degeneration study, Report No. 1

“…Increasing intake of marine-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was shown to decrease both the in vitro and in vivo indices of T cellmediated function in healthy older persons (118,119). This effect was specific to marine-derived n-3 PUFA and was not observed by increasing the intake of plantderived n-6 PUFA (119).…”

Differential immunomodulation with long-chainn-3 PUFA in health and chronic disease

“…For instance, Kramer and co-workers (Kramer et al 1991) have found a significant decrease in lymphocyte proliferation following a high dose of fish oil, and this effect is completely reversed by concurrent supplementation of vitamin E. In contrast, Trebble et al (2003b) have found no effect of co-administering an antioxidant mix with a fish oil supplement, and all other studies that have found decreased lymphocyte proliferation used capsules enriched with vitamin E (apart from one study that used fish; Meydani et al 1993). On the other hand, the observation by Meydani et al (1991) that older (female) subjects are more susceptible to the effects of long-chain n-3 PUFA is further supported by three other studies in elderly DB, double-blind; PC, placebo-controlled; R, randomised; ALA, a-linolenic acid (18: 3n-3); STA, stearidonic acid (18: 4n-3); GLA, g-linolenic acid (18: 3n-6); Con A, concanavalin A; PHA, phytohaemagglutinin; PWM, pokeweed mitogen; IFN-g, interferon-g; fl, decrease; ›, increase. *The cohorts are listed according to ascending dose of EPA + DHA.…”

n-3 Fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: Actions and molecular mechanisms

“…Peterson et al reported similar findings in rat spleen NK cell activity [87]. Other studies showed that increased intakes of EPA can decrease T lymphocyte functions such as proliferation and interleukin 2 productions in certain populations [88].…”