N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, body fat and inflammation

Anne-Sofie Quist Lund; Ann Louise Hasselbalch; Michael Gamborg; Kristin Skogstrand; David M Hougaard; Berit L Heitmann; Kirsten Ohm Kyvik; Thorkild I A Sørensen; Tine Jess

doi:10.1159/000354663

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, body fat and inflammation

Anne-Sofie Quist Lund, Ann Louise Hasselbalch, Michael Gamborg, Kristin Skogstrand, David M Hougaard, Berit L Heitmann, Kirsten Ohm Kyvik, Thorkild I A Sørensen, Tine Jess

Department of Public Health

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Based on animal studies, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to lower the risk of obesity and inflammation. We aimed to investigate if, among humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs was associated with i) total body fat, ii) body fat distribution and iii) obesity-related inflammatory markers. Methods: The study population consisted of 1,212 healthy individuals with information on habitual food intake from food frequency questionnaires, six different measures of body fat, and levels of six circulating inflammatory markers. Multiple linear regression analysis of intakes of PUFAs in relation to outcomes were performed and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Absolute n-3 PUFA intake, but not n-3/n-6, was inversely associated with the different measures of body fat. Among n-3 PUFA derivatives, only -linolenic acid (ALA) was inversely associated with body fat measures. No significant interactions with the dietary macronutrient composition were observed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were not associated with absolute PUFA intake, but the macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1) was associated with the n-3/n-6 ratio. Conclusion: In humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs, in particular ALA, is beneficially associated with body fatness. The favourable association is, however, not reflected in systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nor is it influenced by macronutrients in the diet.

Original language	English
Journal	Obesity Facts
Volume	6
Issue number	4
Pages (from-to)	369-379
Number of pages	11
ISSN	1662-4025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1159/000354663
Publication status	Published - Aug 2013

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title = "N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, body fat and inflammation",

abstract = "Background: Based on animal studies, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to lower the risk of obesity and inflammation. We aimed to investigate if, among humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs was associated with i) total body fat, ii) body fat distribution and iii) obesity-related inflammatory markers. Methods: The study population consisted of 1,212 healthy individuals with information on habitual food intake from food frequency questionnaires, six different measures of body fat, and levels of six circulating inflammatory markers. Multiple linear regression analysis of intakes of PUFAs in relation to outcomes were performed and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Absolute n-3 PUFA intake, but not n-3/n-6, was inversely associated with the different measures of body fat. Among n-3 PUFA derivatives, only -linolenic acid (ALA) was inversely associated with body fat measures. No significant interactions with the dietary macronutrient composition were observed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were not associated with absolute PUFA intake, but the macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1) was associated with the n-3/n-6 ratio. Conclusion: In humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs, in particular ALA, is beneficially associated with body fatness. The favourable association is, however, not reflected in systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nor is it influenced by macronutrients in the diet.",

author = "Lund, {Anne-Sofie Quist} and Hasselbalch, {Ann Louise} and Michael Gamborg and Kristin Skogstrand and Hougaard, {David M} and Heitmann, {Berit L} and Kyvik, {Kirsten Ohm} and S{\o}rensen, {Thorkild I A} and Tine Jess",

year = "2013",

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doi = "10.1159/000354663",

language = "English",

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pages = "369--379",

journal = "Obesity Facts",

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T1 - N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, body fat and inflammation

AU - Lund, Anne-Sofie Quist

AU - Hasselbalch, Ann Louise

AU - Gamborg, Michael

AU - Skogstrand, Kristin

AU - Hougaard, David M

AU - Heitmann, Berit L

AU - Kyvik, Kirsten Ohm

AU - Sørensen, Thorkild I A

AU - Jess, Tine

PY - 2013/8

Y1 - 2013/8

N2 - Background: Based on animal studies, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to lower the risk of obesity and inflammation. We aimed to investigate if, among humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs was associated with i) total body fat, ii) body fat distribution and iii) obesity-related inflammatory markers. Methods: The study population consisted of 1,212 healthy individuals with information on habitual food intake from food frequency questionnaires, six different measures of body fat, and levels of six circulating inflammatory markers. Multiple linear regression analysis of intakes of PUFAs in relation to outcomes were performed and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Absolute n-3 PUFA intake, but not n-3/n-6, was inversely associated with the different measures of body fat. Among n-3 PUFA derivatives, only -linolenic acid (ALA) was inversely associated with body fat measures. No significant interactions with the dietary macronutrient composition were observed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were not associated with absolute PUFA intake, but the macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1) was associated with the n-3/n-6 ratio. Conclusion: In humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs, in particular ALA, is beneficially associated with body fatness. The favourable association is, however, not reflected in systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nor is it influenced by macronutrients in the diet.

AB - Background: Based on animal studies, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to lower the risk of obesity and inflammation. We aimed to investigate if, among humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs was associated with i) total body fat, ii) body fat distribution and iii) obesity-related inflammatory markers. Methods: The study population consisted of 1,212 healthy individuals with information on habitual food intake from food frequency questionnaires, six different measures of body fat, and levels of six circulating inflammatory markers. Multiple linear regression analysis of intakes of PUFAs in relation to outcomes were performed and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Absolute n-3 PUFA intake, but not n-3/n-6, was inversely associated with the different measures of body fat. Among n-3 PUFA derivatives, only -linolenic acid (ALA) was inversely associated with body fat measures. No significant interactions with the dietary macronutrient composition were observed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were not associated with absolute PUFA intake, but the macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1) was associated with the n-3/n-6 ratio. Conclusion: In humans, intake of n-3 PUFAs, in particular ALA, is beneficially associated with body fatness. The favourable association is, however, not reflected in systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nor is it influenced by macronutrients in the diet.

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DO - 10.1159/000354663

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SN - 1662-4025

VL - 6

SP - 369

EP - 379

JO - Obesity Facts

JF - Obesity Facts

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ER -

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, body fat and inflammation

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