| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Original Research Communication |
1 From the Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom (SK, TB, and PCC); the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom (AMM, YEF, and CMW); Roche Vitamins Ltd, Basel, Switzerland (RM); and Unilever Health Institute, Vlaardingen, Netherlands (RA).
Background: Greatly increasing dietary flaxseed oil [rich in the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) 
-linolenic acid (ALA)] or fish oil [rich in the long-chain n-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids] can reduce markers of immune cell function. The effects of more modest doses are unclear, and it is not known whether ALA has the same effects as its long-chain derivatives.
Objective: The objective was to determine the effects of enriching the diet with ALA or EPA+DHA on immune outcomes representing key functions of human neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes.
Design: In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study, 150 healthy men and women aged 25–72 y were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 interventions: placebo (no additional n-3 PUFAs), 4.5 or 9.5 g ALA/d, and 0.77 or 1.7 g EPA+DHA/d for 6 mo. The n-3 PUFAs were provided in 25 g fat spread plus 3 oil capsules. Blood samples were taken at 0, 3, and 6 mo.
Results: The fatty acid composition of peripheral blood mononuclear cell phospholipids was significantly different in the groups with higher intakes of ALA or EPA+DHA. The interventions did not alter the percentages of neutrophils or monocytes engaged in phagocytosis of Escherichia coli or in phagocytic activity, the percentages of neutrophils or monocytes undergoing oxidative burst in response to E. coli or phorbol ester, the proliferation of lymphocytes in response to a T cell mitogen, the production of numerous cytokines by monocytes and lymphocytes, or the in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity response.
Conclusion: An intake of 
9.5 g ALA/d or 1.7 g EPA+DHA/d does not alter the functional activity of neutrophils, monocytes, or lymphocytes, but it changes the fatty acid composition of mononuclear cells.
Key Words: Fish oil • -linolenic acid • n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids • immunity • lymphocyte • monocyte • neutrophil • cytokine • phagocytosis • oxidative burst
Related articles in AJCN:
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  T. Mizota, C. Fujita-Kambara, N. Matsuya, S. Hamasaki, T. Fukudome, H. Goto, S. Nakane, T. Kondo, and H. Matsuo Effect of Dietary Fatty Acid Composition on Th1/Th2 Polarization in Lymphocytes JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, July 1, 2009; 33(4): 390 - 396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. T. Damsgaard, L. Lauritzen, P. C. Calder, T. R. Kjaer, and H. Frokiaer Reduced ex Vivo Interleukin-6 Production by Dietary Fish Oil Is Not Modified by Linoleic Acid Intake in Healthy Men J. Nutr., July 1, 2009; 139(7): 1410 - 1414. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. P. Simopoulos The Importance of the Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio in Cardiovascular Disease and Other Chronic Diseases Experimental Biology and Medicine, June 1, 2008; 233(6): 674 - 688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. T. Damsgaard, L. Lauritzen, T. M.R. Kjaer, P. M. I. Holm, M.-B. Fruekilde, K. F. Michaelsen, and H. Frokiaer Fish Oil Supplementation Modulates Immune Function in Healthy Infants J. Nutr., April 1, 2007; 137(4): 1031 - 1036. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. C. Calder Immunological Parameters: What Do They Mean? J. Nutr., March 1, 2007; 137(3): 773S - 780S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Zhao, T. D Etherton, K. R Martin, P. J Gillies, S. G West, and P. M Kris-Etherton Dietary {alpha}-linolenic acid inhibits proinflammatory cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in hypercholesterolemic subjects Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2007; 85(2): 385 - 391. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. R. Shaikh and M. Edidin Polyunsaturated fatty acids, membrane organization, T cells, and antigen presentation Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2006; 84(6): 1277 - 1289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. C Calder n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and inflammatory diseases Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2006; 83(6): S1505 - 1519S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Rees, E. A Miles, T. Banerjee, S. J Wells, C. E Roynette, K. W. Wahle, and P. C Calder Dose-related effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on innate immune function in healthy humans: a comparison of young and older men Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2006; 83(2): 331 - 342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Masood, K. D. Stark, and N. Salem Jr. A simplified and efficient method for the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters suitable for large clinical studies J. Lipid Res., October 1, 2005; 46(10): 2299 - 2305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Hussein, E. Ah-Sing, P. Wilkinson, C. Leach, B. A. Griffin, and D. J. Millward Long-chain conversion of [13C]linoleic acid and {alpha}-linolenic acid in response to marked changes in their dietary intake in men J. Lipid Res., February 1, 2005; 46(2): 269 - 280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. K. Paschos, N. Yiannakouris, L. S. Rallidis, I. Davies, B. A. Griffin, D. B. Panagiotakos, F. N. Skopouli, V. Votteas, and A. Zampelas Apolipoprotein E Genotype in Dyslipidemic Patients and Response of Blood Lipids and Inflammatory Markers to Alpha-Linolenic Acid Angiology, January 1, 2005; 56(1): 49 - 60. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Y.-Y. Fan, L. H. Ly, R. Barhoumi, D. N. McMurray, and R. S. Chapkin Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid Suppresses T Cell Protein Kinase C{theta} Lipid Raft Recruitment and IL-2 Production J. Immunol., November 15, 2004; 173(10): 6151 - 6160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. J. Anderson and K. L. Fritsche Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Modulate In Vivo, Antigen-Driven CD4+ T-Cell Proliferation in Mice J. Nutr., August 1, 2004; 134(8): 1978 - 1983. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Kew, S. Wells, F. Thies, G. P. McNeill, P. T. Quinlan, G. T. Clark, H. Dombrowsky, A. D. Postle, and P. C. Calder The Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Rat Lymphocyte Proliferation Depends Upon Its Position in Dietary Triacylglycerols J. Nutr., December 1, 2003; 133(12): 4230 - 4238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Cunningham-Rundles Is the fatty acid composition of immune cells the key to normal variations in human immune response? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2003; 77(5): 1096 - 1097. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
