Effect of Marine-Derived n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin 6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor α: A Meta-Analysis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 2; p. e88103
• Main Authors: Li, Kelei, Huang, Tao, Zheng, Jusheng, Wu, Kejian, Li, Duo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.02.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmune Diseases - blood; Autoimmune Diseases - immunology; Biology; Blood; Blood levels; Body mass; Body mass index; Body size; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; C-Reactive Protein - immunology; Chronic Disease; Chronic illnesses; Diet; Dietary intake; Dietary supplements; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Eating; Fasting; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Female; Fish oils; Fish Products; Fishes; Humans; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-6 - immunology; Laboratory testing; Male; Medicine; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Nutrition; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088103

Previous studies did not draw a consistent conclusion about the effects of marine-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on fasting blood level of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). A comprehensive search of Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Medline (from 1950 to 2013) and bibliographies of relevant articles was undertaken. Sixty-eight RCTs with a total of 4601 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. Marine-derived n-3 PUFAs supplementation showed a lowering effect on Marine-derived n-3 PUFAs supplementation had a significant lowering effect on TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP in three groups of subjects (subjects with chronic non-autoimmune disease, subjects with chronic autoimmune disease and healthy subjects). A significant negative linear relationship between duration and effect size of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs supplementation on fasting blood levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in subjects with chronic non-autoimmune disease was observed, indicating that longer duration of supplementation could lead to a greater lowering effect. A similar linear relationship was also observed for IL-6 levels in healthy subjects. Restricted cubic spline analysis and subgroup analysis showed that the lowering effect of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs on CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α in subjects with chronic non-autoimmune disease became weakened when body mass index was greater than 30 kg/m². The effect of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs from dietary intake was only assessed in subjects with chronic non-autoimmune disease, and a significant lowering effect was observed on IL-6, but not on CRP and TNF-α. Marine-derived n-3 PUFAs supplementation had a significant lowering effect on CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α level. The lowering effect was most effective in non-obese subjects and consecutive long-term supplementation was recommended.