The atherosclerotic risk profile is affected differently by fish flesh with a similar EPA and DHA content but different n-6/n-3 ratio

Short-Term Intake of Yellowstripe Scad versus Salmon Did Not Induce Similar Effects on Lipid Profile and Inflammatory Markers among Healthy Overweight Adults despite Their Comparable EPA+DHA Content

Yellowstripe scad (YSS) have comparable eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) content to salmon. We aimed to compare the effects of YSS and salmon on lipid profile and inflammatory markers. A randomized crossover trial with two diet periods was conducted among healthy overweight (with BMI 23.0-27.4 kg/m2) Malaysian adults aged 21-55 years. Steamed whole YSS fish (≈385 g whole fish/day) or salmon fillets (≈246 g fillet/day) were given for eight weeks (3 days per week), retaining approximately 1000 mg EPA+DHA per day. Diets were switched after an 8-week washout period. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after each diet period. A total of 49 subjects participated in the intervention (35% male and 65% female; mean age 29 (7) years). YSS did not induce any significant changes in outcome measures. However, the consumption of salmon as compared with YSS was associated with reduction in triglycerides (between-group difference: -0.09 mmol/1, p = 0.01), VLDL-cholesterol (between-group difference: -0.04 mmol/1, p = 0.01), atherogenic index of plasma (between-group difference: -0.05 mmol/1, p = 0.006), and IL-6 (between-group difference: -0.01 pg/mL, p = 0.03). Despite their comparable EPA+DHA content, short-term consumption of salmon but not YSS induced significant changes in lipid profile and inflammatory markers. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the findings.

Effect of Differently Fed Farmed Gilthead Sea Bream Consumption on Platelet Aggregation and Circulating Haemostatic Markers among Apparently Healthy Adults: A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Trial

Fish consumption beneficially affects coagulation markers. Few dietary intervention studies have investigated differently fed farmed fish against these cardio-metabolic risk factors in humans. This double-blind randomized crossover trial evaluated differently fed farmed gilthead sea bream consumption against platelet aggregation and circulating haemostatic markers among apparently healthy adults. Subjects aged 30-65 years, with a body mass index 24.0-31.0 kg/m², consuming less than 150 g cooked fish per week, were recruited in Attica, Greece. Participants were randomized (n = 38, 1:1) to one of two sequences; consumption of fish fed with fish oil diet (conventional fish, CF)/fish fed with olive pomace-enriched diet (enriched fish, EF) versus EF/CF. The primary outcomes were ex vivo human platelet aggregation and circulating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and P-selectin (sP-selectin) concentrations. EF consumption had no significant effect on platelet sensitivity or haemostatic markers compared to CF. Platelet sensitivity to platelet-activating factor (PAF) decreased after CF consumption during the second period (p < 0.01). Plasma PAI-1 and sP-selectin concentrations increased after CF consumption during both periods (p < 0.01 for both). Based on current findings, consumption of enriched farmed gilthead sea bream had no greater effect on coagulation markers in adults compared to the conventionally fed fish.

The effects of low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA on biomarkers of inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine if low-ratio n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation affects serum inflammation markers based on the current studies.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase and The Cochrane library databases were systematically searched to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA intervention on inflammation markers up to July 2020. Data were pooled using standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), with P value ≦ 0.05 as statistical significance.

RESULTS

Thirty-one RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis indicated that increasing low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation decreased the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (SMD = -0.270; 95% CI: -0.433, -0.106; P = 0.001) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) (SMD = -0.153; 95% CI: -0.260, -0.045; P = 0.005). There were no significant effects on C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = -0.027; 95% CI: -0.189: 0.135; P = 0.741). Subgroup analysis indicated that there was a significant reduction in TNF-α serum concentration in subjects from Asia (SMD: -0.367; 95% CI: -0.579, -0.155; P = 0.001) and in subjects with diseases (SMD: -0.281; 95% CI: -0.436, -0.127; P < 0.001). In the subgroup of the n-6/n-3 ratio ≦5, low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation could decrease the level of TNF-α (SMD: -0.335; 95% CI: -0.552, -0.119; P = 0.002). Serum IL-6 decreased significantly in patients from the Europe subgroup (SMD: -0.451; 95% CI: -0.688, -0.214; P < 0.001), but not in Asia (SMD: -0.034; 95% CI: -0.226, 0.157; P = 0.724), North America (SMD: -0.115; 95% CI: -0.274, 0.044; P = 0.157) and Oceania (SMD: 0.142; 95% CI: -0.557, 0.842; P = 0.690).

CONCLUSION

Low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation could decrease significantly the concentration of serum TNF-α and IL-6, but not decrease CRP concentration.

A review of the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on blood triacylglycerol levels in normolipidemic and borderline hyperlipidemic individuals

Circulating levels of triacylglycerol (TG) is a recognized risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death worldwide. The Institute of Medicine and the American Heart Association both recommend the consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), to reduce serum TG in hyperlipidemic individuals. Additionally, a number of systematic reviews have shown that individuals with any degree of dyslipidemia, elevated serum TG and/or cholesterol, may benefit from a 20-30 % reduction in serum TG after consuming n-3 PUFA derived from marine sources. Given that individuals with serum lipid levels ranging from healthy to borderline dyslipidemic constitute a large portion of the population, the focus of this review was to assess the potential for n-3 PUFA consumption to reduce serum TG in such individuals. A total of 1341 studies were retrieved and 38 clinical intervention studies, assessing 2270 individuals, were identified for inclusion in the current review. In summary, a 9-26 % reduction in circulating TG was demonstrated in studies where ≥ 4 g/day of n-3 PUFA were consumed from either marine or EPA/DHA-enriched food sources, while a 4-51 % reduction was found in studies where 1–5 g/day of EPA and/or DHA was consumed through supplements. Overall, this review summarizes the current evidence with regards to the beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA on circulating TG levels in normolipidemic to borderline hyperlipidemic, otherwise healthy, individuals. Thus demonstrating that n-3 PUFA may play an important role in the maintenance of cardiovascular health and disease prevention.