Long-chain N-3 PUFAs Reduce Adipose Tissue
and Systemic Inflammation in Severely Obese
Nondiabetic Patients: A Randomized
Controlled Trial

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

FROM:   Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 (Nov); 96 (5): 1137–1149 ~ FULL TEXT

Bianca K Itariu, Maximilian Zeyda, Eva E Hochbrugger, Angelika Neuhofer, Gerhard Prager, Karin Schindler, Arthur Bohdjalian, Daniel Mascher, Suman Vangala, Michael Schranz, Michael Krebs, Martin G Bischof, and Thomas M Stulnig

Department of Medicine III,
Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism,
Medical University of Vienna,
Vienna, Austria

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This study evaluated daily supplementation with 3.36g omega-3 fatty acids (O-3FA) for 8 weeks and inflammation in 55 obese nondiabetic patients. O-3FA decreased expression of inflammatory genes and increased production of anti-inflammatory compounds in fatty tissue. Treatment with O-3FA reduced inflammation and improved lipid metabolism in obese nondiabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND:   Chronic adipose tissue inflammation is a hallmark of obesity, triggering the development of associated pathologies, particularly type 2 diabetes. Long-chain n-3 PUFAs reduce cardiovascular events and exert well-established antiinflammatory effects, but their effects on human adipose tissue inflammation are unknown.

OBJECTIVE:   We investigated whether n-3 PUFAs reduce adipose tissue inflammation in severely obese nondiabetic patients.

DESIGN:   We treated 55 severely obese nondiabetic patients, scheduled to undergo elective bariatric surgery, with 3.36 g long-chain n-3 PUFAs/d (EPA, DHA) or an equivalent amount of butterfat as control, for 8 wk, in a randomized open-label controlled clinical trial. The primary efficacy measure was inflammatory gene expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples (subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue), collected during surgery after the intervention. Secondary efficacy variables were adipose tissue production of antiinflammatory n-3 PUFA-derived eicosanoids, plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers, metabolic control, and the effect of the Pro12Ala PPARG polymorphism on the treatment response.

RESULTS:   Treatment with n-3 PUFAs, which was well tolerated, decreased the gene expression of most analyzed inflammatory genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.05) and increased production of antiinflammatory eicosanoids in visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.05). In comparison with control subjects who received butterfat, circulating interleukin-6 and triglyceride concentrations decreased significantly in the n-3 PUFA group (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively). The Pro12Ala polymorphism affected the serum cholesterol response to n-3 PUFA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:   Treatment with long-chain n-3 PUFAs favorably modulated adipose tissue and systemic inflammation in severely obese nondiabetic patients and improved lipid metabolism. These effects may be beneficial in the long-term treatment of obesity.

This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00760760

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