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Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation in healthy middle-aged and older adults: A randomized controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Observational studies have linked lower levels of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with inflammation and depression. This study was designed to determine whether n-3 supplementation would decrease serum cytokine production and depressive symptoms in 138 healthy middle-aged and older adults (average age=51.04, SD=7.76) who were sedentary and overweight (average BMI=30.59, SD=4.50). This three-arm randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 4-month trial compared responses to (1) 2.5 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (2) 1.25 g/d n-3 PUFAs, or (3) placebo capsules that mirrored the proportions of fatty acids in the typical American diet. Serum interleukin-6 decreased by 10% and 12% in our low and high dose n-3 groups, respectively, compared to a 36% increase in the placebo group. Similarly, low and high dose n-3 groups showed modest 0.2% and -2.3% changes in serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, compared to a 12% increase in the control group. Depressive symptoms were quite low at baseline and did not change significantly in response to supplementation. Our data suggest that n-3 PUFAs can reduce inflammation in overweight, sedentary middle-aged and older adults, and thus could have broad health benefits. These data provide a window into the ways in which the n-3 PUFAs may impact disease initiation, progression, and resolution. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00385723.
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“Similarly, consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids has been shown to significantly reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines throughout the body326”
From Inflammation and aging: signaling pathways and intervention therapies (2023) · cites this paper as [326]
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“various RCTs have shown that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation reduces inflammation142–144 and may thus have health-promoting effects141–144”
From Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span (2019) · cites this paper as [143]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Belury, M. A., Andridge, R., Malarkey, W. B., Hwang, B. S., & Glaser, R.
- Affiliations
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Venue
- Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-08
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 988-995
- ISSN
- 0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3398219
- OpenAlex
- W2124212092
- Cited by
- 233
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 17.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- NIH (AG029562, UL1RR025755, CA16058)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Keywords
- omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary supplementation, inflammation, interleukin-6, TNF-α, depressive symptoms, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, middle-aged and older adults, serum cytokines
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal, Body Weight, Depression, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Fatty Acids, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Health Behavior, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Interleukin-6, Treatment Outcome, Sample Size, Dietary Supplements, Overweight, Waist Circumference, Sedentary Behavior
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