Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid in subjects with Parkinson’s disease (PD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in 40 subjects with PD. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 1000 mg/day of omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil plus 400 IU/day of vitamin E supplements or placebo (n = 20 each group) for 12 weeks. Gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid were quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of PD patients with RT-PCR method. RESULTS: After the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation downregulated gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P = 0.002) in PBMC of subjects with PD. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (P = 0.03), and downregulated oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) (P = 0.002) in PBMC of subjects with PD compared with the placebo. We did not observe any significant effect of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-8 in PBMC of patients with PD. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation for 12 weeks in PD patients significantly improved gene expression of TNF-α, PPAR-γ and LDLR, but did not affect IL-1 and IL-8.
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Key Points
There is evidence suggests the importance of co-supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). In addition, co-supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E might have a strong synergistic effect on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid. There are few studies on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid in patients with PD. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid in patients with PD. In the current study, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation for 12 weeks in PD patients significantly improved gene expression of TNF-α, PPAR-γ and LDLR, but did not affect IL-1 and IL-8. Omega-3 and vitamin E cosupplementation to subjects with PD for 12 weeks significantly decreased UPDRS part I compared with the placebo, but did not affect other parts of UPDRS. This study supported that omega-3 and vitamin E co-supplementation to subjects with PD for 12 weeks significantly decreased gene expression of TNF-α compared with the placebo, but did not affect IL-1 and IL-8. The authors have previously showed that taking omega-3 from flaxseed oil at a dosage of 1000 mg twice a day for 12 weeks by patients with PCOS significantly improved gene expression of PPAR-γ and LDLR. PPAR-γ and its ligands have been demonstrated as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of several pathological conditions linked to neuroinflammation within the central nervous system. In addition, PPAR-γ involve in differentiation, energetic metabolism, diabetes, carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and neurodegeneration.