Subgroup analysis revealed that increasing dietary ALA tends to elevate CRP concentration  in healthy subjects .
However , the null effect of ALA supplementation on other inflammatory markers was not changed in various subgroups , indicating that the results are stable .
Meta-regression results revealed a negative relationship between the effect size on CRP and its baseline concentration .
No significant publication bias was observed for all inflammatory markers as suggested by funnel plot and Begg ’s test .
Conclusion Our meta- analysis did not find any beneficial effect of ALA supplementation  on reducing inflammatory markers including TNF , IL-6 , CRP , sICAM-1 , and sVCAM-1 .
However , in healthy subjects  , ALA supplementation might increase CRP concentration
Purpose The aim of the current meta- analysis was to investigate the effect of increasing dietary ALA intake on the blood concentration of inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) , interleukin 6 ( IL-6 ) , C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( sICAM-1 ) , and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 ( sVCAM-1 )  in adults .
Alpha-linolenic acid supplementation and resistance training in older adults.
Increased inflammation with aging has been linked to sarcopenia . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing older adults with alpha-linolenic acid ( ALA ) during a resistance training program , based on the hypothesis that ALA decreases the plasma concentration of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 , which in turn would improve muscle size and strength . Fifty-one older adults ( 65.4 + /- 0.8 years ) were r and omized to receive ALA in flax oil ( ~14 g.day-1 ) or placebo for 12 weeks while completing a resistance training program ( 3 days a week ) . Subjects were evaluated at baseline and after 12 weeks for muscle thickness of knee and elbow flexors and extensors ( B-mode ultrasound ) , muscle strength ( 1 repetition maximum ) , body composition ( dual energy X-ray absorptiometry ) , and concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 . Males supplementing with ALA  decreased IL-6 concentration over the 12 weeks ( 62 + /- 36 % decrease ; p = 0.003 ) , with no other changes in inflammatory cytokines . Chest and leg press strength , lean tissue mass , muscle thickness , hip bone mineral content and density , and total bone mineral content significantly increased , and percent fat and total body mass decreased with training ( p < 0.05 ) , with the only benefit of ALA being a significantly greater increase in knee flexor muscle thickness in males ( p < 0.05 ) . Total-body bone mineral density improved in the placebo group , with no change in the ALA group ( p = 0.05 ) . ALA supplementation lowers the IL-6 concentration in older men but not women , but had minimal effect on muscle mass and strength during resistance training
Subgroup analysis revealed that increasing dietary ALA tends to elevate CRP concentration  in healthy subjects .
However , the null effect of ALA supplementation on other inflammatory markers was not changed in various subgroups , indicating that the results are stable .
Meta-regression results revealed a negative relationship between the effect size on CRP and its baseline concentration .
No significant publication bias was observed for all inflammatory markers as suggested by funnel plot and Begg ’s test .
Conclusion Our meta- analysis did not find any beneficial effect of ALA supplementation  on reducing inflammatory markers including TNF , IL-6 , CRP , sICAM-1 , and sVCAM-1 .
However , in healthy subjects  , ALA supplementation might increase CRP concentration
Purpose The aim of the current meta- analysis was to investigate the effect of increasing dietary ALA intake on the blood concentration of inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) , interleukin 6 ( IL-6 ) , C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( sICAM-1 ) , and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 ( sVCAM-1 )  in adults .