Arachidonic acid supplementation enhances synthesis of eicosanoids without suppressing immune functions in young healthy men
Open accessAbstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) supplementation on human immune response (IR) and on the secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Ten healthy men (20–38 yr) participated in the study and lived at the Metabolic Suite of the Western Human Nutrition Research Center. They were fed a basal diet (57, 27, and 16 energy percentage from carbohydrate, fat, and protein, respectively, and AA 200 mg/d) for the first 15 d of the study. Additional AA (1.5 g/d) was added to the diet of six men from day 16 to 65, while the remaining four subjects remained on the basal diet. The diets of the two groups were crossed‐over from day 66 to 115. In vitro indices of IR were examined using blood drawn on days 15, 58, 65, 108, and 115. Influenza antibody titers were determined in the sera prepared from blood drawn on days 92 and 115 (23 d postimmunization). AA supplementation caused significant increases in the in vitro secretion of LTB4, and PGE2, but it did not alter the in vitro secretion of tumor necrosis factor α; interleukins 1β, 2, 6; and the receptor for interleukin 2. Nor did it change the number of circulting lymphocytes bearing markers for specific subsets (B, T, helper, suppressor, natural killer) and the serum antibody titers against influenza vaccine. The opposing effects of PGE2 and LTB4 may have led to the lack of change in immune functions tested.
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As little as 1.5 g per day of ARA supplementation over a 50-day period has been shown to increase tissue cell membrane stores of ARA.
“However, as little as 1.5 g per day of supplementation over a 50-day period has been shown to increase tissue cell membrane stores of ARA [530].”
From ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations (2018) · cites this paper as [530]
The Subjects, protocol, and diets section reports 1.5 g/day of arachidonic acid supplementation for 50 days. The Results report increased eicosanoid secretion, but do not show an increase in tissue cell membrane stores of arachidonic acid; the paper’s statement that arachidonic acid is a membrane fatty acid does not establish that outcome. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredEicosanoids derived from n-3 PUFAs are less biologically active than n-6 PUFAs and have weaker affinity for eicosanoid receptors.
“This divergent behaviour is due to the fact that eicosanoids derived from n-3 PUFAs are less biologically active than n-6 PUFAs, and possess a weaker affinity for eicosanoid receptors [63,64,65].”
From Potential Roles of n-3 PUFAs during Skeletal Muscle Growth and Regeneration (2018) · cites this paper as [64]
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References 35 · Cited by 143
- Authors
- Kelley, D. S., Taylor, P. C., Nelson, G. J., & Mackey, B. E.
- Affiliations
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kelley, Darshan S.
- ORCID
- Taylor, Peter C.
- Venue
- Lipids
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1998-02
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 125-130
- ISSN
- 0024-4201 (ISSN-L)
- 1558-9307
- OpenAlex
- W1999997292
- Cited by
- 143
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 2.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Lipids (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
- Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Inflammatory mediators and NSAID effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- eicosanoid biosynthesis, prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, immune function, lymphocyte subsets, interleukins, TNF-α, dietary fatty acids, healthy young men
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Antibodies, Viral, Dietary Fats, Unsaturated, Humans, Immune System, Immunization, Influenza Vaccines, Interleukins, Leukotriene B4, Male, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Dinoprostone, Eicosanoids, Lymphocyte Subsets, Arachidonic Acid, Dietary Supplements
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