The effect on human tumor necrosis factor a and interleukin 1B production of diets enriched in n-3 fatty acids from vegetable oil or fish oil.

Key Findings

This study assessed the effectiveness for inhibition of mononuclear cell TNFa and IL-1B production of a diet containing flaxseed oil. A control group consumed a diet based on sunflower oil. These were compared to encapsulated fish oil used as a dietary supplement. The omega-3 suppressed TNFa and IL -1B synthesis. Diets with increased ratios of n-3 to n-6 fats can decrease the production of TNFa and IL – 1B and may thereby provide background environments favorable to effective drug treatment. Current Western diets with low ratios may be suboptimal for the effective application of drug therapies that require inhibition of TNFa and IL – 1B production. Vegetable oils with elevated ratios of n-3 to n-6 can be effective components of such diets.

ABSTRACT

The effect of a flaxseed oil-based diet on tumor necrosis factor a and interleukin 1B synthesis was examined in healthy volunteers. Use of flaxseed oil in domestic food preparation for 4 week inhibited TNF a and IL-1B production by 30%. Fish-oil supplementation continued for a further 4wk; TNFa and IL-1B synthesis were inhibited by 74% and 80%, respectively. There was a significant inverse exponential relation between TNFa or IL-1B synthesis and mononuclear cell content of eicosapentaenoic acid, an n-3 fatty acid derived from ingested EPA (fish oil) or metabolism of ingested a-linolenic acid (flaxseed oil). Cytokine production decreased as cellular EPA increased to 1% of total fatty acids. Further increases in EPA content did not result in further decreases in cytokine production. The results indicate that vegetable oils rich in n-3 fatty acids inhibit TNFa and IL-1B synthesis.