Dose-related effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on innate immune function in healthy humans: a comparison of young and older men

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2006-02, Vol.83 (2), p.331-342
• Main Authors: Rees, Dinka, Miles, Elizabeth A, Banerjee, Tapati, Wells, Solenne J, Roynette, Catherine E, Wahle, Klaus WJ, Calder, Philip C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Aging - immunology; Aging - physiology; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Comparative analysis; cytokines; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Dietary Supplements; Dinoprostone - biosynthesis; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; eicosapentaenoic acid; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - administration & dosage; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - blood; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - pharmacology; elderly; elderly nutrition; Fatty acids; Feeding. Feeding behavior; fish oils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; immune response; Immune system; Immunity, Innate - drug effects; immunocompetence; inflammation; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Male; Men; Middle Aged; monocytes; neutrophils; Neutrophils - immunology; omega-3 fatty acids; Phagocytosis; Phospholipids - chemistry; Phospholipids - metabolism; respiratory burst; Respiratory Burst - drug effects; respiratory quotient; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; young adults
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/83.2.331

BACKGROUND: Increasing intakes of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can decrease markers of immunity. However, dose- and age-related responses have not been identified. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the effects of different amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on innate immune outcomes in young and older males. DESIGN: In a controlled, double-blind study, healthy young and older men consumed 1 of 4 supplements provided as capsules: placebo (corn oil) or different amounts of an oil providing 1.35, 2.7, or 4.05 g EPA/d for 12 wk. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 wk. RESULTS: EPA was incorporated in a linear dose-response fashion into plasma and mononuclear cell (MNC) phospholipids; incorporation was greater in the older men. EPA treatment did not alter neutrophil or monocyte phagocytosis, monocyte respiratory burst, or the production of inflammatory cytokines by MNCs in the young or older men. EPA treatment caused a dose-dependent decrease in neutrophil respiratory burst only in the older men. Increased incorporation of EPA into plasma or MNC phospholipids was associated with decreased production of prostaglandin E₂ by MNCs from both young and older men. CONCLUSIONS: Older subjects incorporate EPA into plasma and MNC phospholipids more readily than do younger subjects. Other than prostaglandin E₂ production, innate immune responses in young subjects are not affected by an EPA intake of