2013/02/28 by Lindsay E. Robinson, Vera C. Mazurak · 77 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · Nursing · #Biochemistry #Biology #Clinical chemistry #Confounding #Diabetes mellitus #Docosahexaenoic acid #Eicosanoids and Hypertension Pharmacology #Eicosapentaenoic acid #Endocrinology #Fatty Acid Research and Health #Fatty acid #Inflammation #Internal medicine #Lipidology #Medicine #Metabolic syndrome #Observational study #Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors #Physiology #Polyunsaturated fatty acid #Type 2 diabetes #alpha-Linolenic acid
paper · doi:10.1007/s11745-013-3774-6
published in Lipids 48(4), 319-332 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2013/02/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
Individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, therefore, research has been directed at reducing various components that contribute to MetS and associated metabolic impairments, including chronic low-grade inflammation. Epidemiological, human, animal and cell culture studies provide evidence that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), including alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3, ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) may improve some of the components associated with MetS. The current review will discuss recent evidence from human observational and intervention studies that focused on the effects of ALA, EPA or DHA on inflammatory markers in healthy adults and those with one or more features of MetS. Observational studies in healthy adults support the recommendation that a diet rich in n-3 fatty acids may play a role in preventing and reducing inflammation, whereas intervention studies in healthy adults have yielded inconsistent results. The majority of intervention studies in adults with features of MetS have reported a benefit for some inflammatory measures; however, other studies using high n-3 fatty acid doses and long supplementation periods have reported no effect. Overall, the data reviewed herein support recommendations for regular fatty fish consumption and point toward health benefits in terms of lowering inflammation in adults with one or more features of MetS.