Relationship of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids to circulating inflammatory markers.

TLDR: The notion that n-3 fatty acids may be beneficial in patients affected by diseases characterized by active inflammation is supported, as well as the fact that PUFAs were independently associated with lower levels of proinflammatory markers and higher levels of antiinflammatory markers independent of confounders.

Abstract: Aims: Persons with high intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The protective effect of PUFAs is mediated by multiple mechanisms, including their antiinflammatory properties. The association of physiological PUFA levels with pro- and antiinflammatory markers has not been established. Methods and Results: In 1123 persons (aged 20–98 yr), we examined the relationship between relative concentration of fatty acids in fasting plasma and level of inflammatory markers. Adjusting for age, sex, and major confounders, lower arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids were associated with significantly higher IL-6 and IL-1ra and significantly lower TGF. Lower -linolenic acid was associated with higherC-reactiveproteinandIL-1ra,andlowereicosapentaenoicacid was associated with higher IL-6 and lower TGF. Lower docosahexaenoic acid was strongly associated with lower IL-10. Total n-3 fatty acids were associated with lower IL-6 (P 0.005), IL-1ra (P 0.004), and TNF (P 0.040) and higher soluble IL-6r (P 0.001), IL-10 (P 0.024), and TGF (P 0.0012). Lower n-6 fatty acid levels weresignificantlyassociatedwithhigherIL-1ra(P0.026)andlower TGF(P0.014).Then-6ton-3ratiowasastrong,negativecorrelate of IL-10. Findings were similar in participants free of cardiovascular diseases and after excluding lipids from covariates. Conclusions: In this community-based sample, PUFAs, and especially total n-3 fatty acids, were independently associated with lower levels of proinflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1ra, TNF, C-reactive protein) and higher levels of antiinflammatory markers (soluble IL6r, IL-10, TGF) independent of confounders. Our findings support the notion that n-3 fatty acids may be beneficial in patients affected by diseases characterized by active inflammation. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91: 439–446, 2006)