Red blood cell fatty acids and biomarkers of inflammation: a cross-sectional study in a community-based cohort.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
PubMed 25897795 · doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.03.043
What was done
The authors evaluated the cross-sectional association between red blood cell (RBC) EPA and DHA content and 10 inflammatory biomarkers active across multiple pathways in 2,724 participants (mean age 66 ± 9 years, 54% women, 8% racial/ethnic minorities) from the Framingham Offspring and minority Omni Cohorts, using multivariable-adjusted models.
What was found
After multivariable adjustment, RBC EPA and DHA content was modestly and inversely correlated with all 10 evaluated biomarkers: - Urinary isoprostanes: r = -0.16 (P ≤ 0.001) - Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 mass: r = -0.11 (P ≤ 0.001) - Soluble interleukin-6: r = -0.10 (P ≤ 0.001) - C-reactive protein: r = -0.08 (P ≤ 0.001) - Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2: r = -0.08 (P ≤ 0.001) - Intercellular adhesion molecule-1: r = -0.08 (P ≤ 0.001) - Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 activity: r = -0.08 (P ≤ 0.001) - P-selectin: r = -0.06 (P ≤ 0.001) - Osteoprotegerin: r = -0.06 (P = 0.002) - Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1: r = -0.05 (P = 0.006)
Why it matters
The findings support the hypothesis that membrane omega-3 fatty acids exert broad, systemic anti-inflammatory effects across diverse pathways in a general adult population.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or determine temporal direction. All observed correlation coefficients were weak (|r| ≤ 0.16). The cohort consisted predominantly of older adults (mean age 66) with low minority representation (8%), limiting generalizability.
Cited by
- supports In a Framingham Study analysis of 10 distinct plasma inflammatory biomarkers against the Omega-3 Index, all 10 markers were inversely correlated with omega-3 levels.