The Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid-Fortified Food on Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Subjects—A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

Shuntaro FUJIOKA; Kei HAMAZAKI; Miho ITOMURA; Mingming HUAN; Hiroto NISHIZAWA; Shigeki SAWAZAKI; Isao KITAJIMA; Tomohito HAMAZAKI

doi:10.3177/jnsv.52.261

Regular Paper

The Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid-Fortified Food on Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Subjects—A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

Shuntaro FUJIOKA, Kei HAMAZAKI, Miho ITOMURA, Mingming HUAN, Hiroto NISHIZAWA, Shigeki SAWAZAKI, Isao KITAJIMA, Tomohito HAMAZAKI

Author information

Shuntaro FUJIOKA
Division of Clinical Application, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
Kei HAMAZAKI
Division of Clinical Application, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
Miho ITOMURA
Division of Clinical Application, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
Mingming HUAN
Division of Clinical Application, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
Hiroto NISHIZAWA
Division of Clinical Application, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
Shigeki SAWAZAKI
First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toyama School of Medicine
Isao KITAJIMA
Laboratory Medicine, University of Toyama School of Medicine
Tomohito HAMAZAKI
Division of Clinical Application, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama

Keywords: high sensitivity C-reactive protein, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptors, eicosapentaenoic acid, fish oil

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2006 Volume 52 Issue 4 Pages 261-265

DOI https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.52.261

Details

Abstract

Epidemiological studies showed that habitual fish intakes were associated with lower blood inflammatory markers. In the present study the effects of a fish oil-containing food on inflammatory markers were investigated in healthy, mostly middle-aged subjects (59 men and 82 women) with normal to mildly elevated triglyceride levels. Study subjects were randomly allocated to two groups in a double-blind manner; one group ingested an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-rich fish oil-fortified drink (0.60 g EPA+0.26 g docosahexaenoic acid/d, EPA group, n=68) for 12 wk. The rest of the subjects took a placebo (control group, n=73). Plasma levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptors 1 and 2 (sTNF-Rs 1 and 2) were measured at the start and end of intervention. EPA concentrations in the total RBC phospholipid fraction significantly increased by 79% in the EPA group at the end of the study, and they changed very little in the control group (+0.68%). The inflammatory markers did not change in either group. It is likely that fish oil does not change hs-CRP or sTNF-Rs 1 or 2 in subjects without active inflammation.

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