We conclude that omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with lower inflammatory biomarkers among diabetic and cardiovascular patients .
The purpose of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to investigate omega-3 fatty acids ’ influence on 12 inflammatory biomarkers — LDL , HDL , total cholesterol , TG , HbA1c , Apo AI , Apo AII , Apo B , CRP , TNF-α , glucose , and fasting blood glucose among diabetic and cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) patients .
Association of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with stability of atherosclerotic plaques: a randomised controlled trial
BACKGROUND N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) from oily fish protect against death from cardiovascular disease . We aim ed to assess the hypothesis that incorporation of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs into advanced atherosclerotic plaques increases and decreases plaque stability , respectively . METHODS We did a r and omised controlled trial of patients awaiting carotid endarterectomy . We r and omly allocated patients control , sunflower oil ( n-6 ) , or fish-oil ( n-3 ) capsules until surgery . Primary outcome was plaque morphology indicative of stability or instability , and outcome measures were concentrations of EPA , DHA , and linoleic acid in carotid plaques ; plaque morphology ; and presence of macrophages in plaques . Analysis was per protocol . FINDINGS 188 patients were enrolled and r and omised ; 18 withdrew and eight were excluded . Duration of oil treatment was 7 - 189 days ( median 42 ) and did not differ between groups . The proportions of EPA and DHA were higher in carotid plaque fractions in patients receiving fish oil compared with those receiving control ( absolute difference 0.5 [ 95 % CI 0.3 - 0.7 ] , 0.4 [ 0.1 - 0.6 ] , and 0.2 [ 0.1 - 0.4 ] g/100 g total fatty acids for EPA ; and 0.3 [ 0.0 - 0.8 ] , 0.4 [ 0.1 - 0.7 ] , and 0.3 [ 0.1 - 0.6 ] g/100 g total fatty acids for DHA ; in plaque phospholipids , cholesteryl esters , and triacylglycerols , respectively ) . Sunflower oil had little effect on the fatty acid composition of lipid fractions . Fewer plaques from patients being treated with fish oil had thin fibrous caps and signs of inflammation and more plaques had thick fibrous caps and no signs of inflammation , compared with plaques in patients in the control and sunflower oil groups ( odds ratio 0.52 [ 95 % CI 0.24 - 0.89 ] and 1.19 [ 1.02 - 1.57 ] vs control ; 0.49 [ 0.23 - 0.90 ] and 1.16 [ 1.01 - 1.53 ] vs sunflower oil ) . The number of macrophages in plaques from patients receiving fish oil was lower than in the other two groups . Carotid plaque morphology and infiltration by macrophages did not differ between control and sunflower oil groups . INTERPRETATION Atherosclerotic plaques readily incorporate n-3 PUFAs from fish-oil supplementation , inducing changes that can enhance stability of atherosclerotic plaques . By contrast , increased consumption of n-6 PUFAs does not affect carotid plaque fatty-acid composition or stability over the time course studied here . Stability of plaques could explain reductions in non-fatal and fatal cardiovascular events associated with increased n-3 PUFA intake
We conclude that omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with lower inflammatory biomarkers among diabetic and cardiovascular patients .
The purpose of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to investigate omega-3 fatty acids ’ influence on 12 inflammatory biomarkers — LDL , HDL , total cholesterol , TG , HbA1c , Apo AI , Apo AII , Apo B , CRP , TNF-α , glucose , and fasting blood glucose among diabetic and cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) patients .