Effect of omega-3 ethyl esters on the triglyceride-rich lipoprotein response to endotoxin challenge in healthy young men.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized crossover trial
PubMed 36907552 · doi:10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100353
What was done
Seventeen healthy young men participated in a randomized crossover study receiving 8 to 12 weeks of prescription omega-3 acid ethyl esters (P-OM3; 3.4 g/day EPA + DHA) and olive oil control in randomized order. Following each treatment period, subjects received an endotoxin challenge (lipopolysaccharide; 0.6 ng/kg body weight), and time-dependent triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TGRL) fatty acid and oxylipin composition was measured.
What was found
Postchallenge, arachidonic acid was 16% (95% CI: 4%, 28%) lower than baseline at 8 hours with olive oil control. P-OM3 increased TGRL omega-3 fatty acids (EPA 24% [95% CI: 15%, 34%]; DHA 14% [95% CI: 5%, 24%]). Timing of omega-6 oxylipin responses differed by class: arachidonic acid-derived alcohols peaked at 2 hours, whereas linoleic acid-derived alcohols peaked at 4 hours (p-interaction = 0.006). At 4 hours postchallenge, P-OM3 increased EPA alcohols by 161% (95% CI: 68%, 305%) and DHA epoxides by 178% (95% CI: 47%, 427%) compared to control.
Why it matters
This study shows that prescription omega-3 supplementation modulates lipoprotein lipidomes during acute systemic inflammation, enhancing the availability of omega-3-derived resolving oxylipins.
Limits
The study was small (n = 17) and limited entirely to healthy young men, restricting generalizability to women, older demographics, and individuals with chronic inflammatory diseases. The acute endotoxin challenge model may not fully represent chronic inflammatory conditions.
Cited by
- context Injecting healthy individuals with postprandial levels of LPS increases inflammatory biomarkers, depressive symptoms, and social withdrawal, but prior supplementation with omega-3 prevents these depressive symptoms and blunts the inflammatory response.