Mike Montemarano, Associate Editor 01.26.21
A recent epidemiological study conducted in Korea recently substantiated through large-scale outcomes supported a long-held claim that increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce low-grade inflammation. Specifically, it was found that omega-3s were linked to lower levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker considered to be a predictor of a number adverse cardiovascular events, even in subjects who are healthy.
“This is because chronic low-grade inflammation, also known as subclinical chronic inflammation, plays an important role in atherosclerosis, and [high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein] precisely and reliably reflects this condition,” the authors said.
Utilizing data sourced from 4,804 participants of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the authors of the study accounted for a number of health parameters and outcomes which were recorded through a health interview, a health examination, and nutrition surveys, followed up by dieticians’ visits to the homes of the participants.
Omega-3s intake was assessed by measuring it in a ratio with total number of calories consumed per day, and the authors defined subclinical inflammation as circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein of levels greater than 3 mg/dL.
The participants in the trial, all of whom were healthy men and women under the age of 60, were broken into four quartiles based on their omega-3s to energy intake ratios, which led the authors to observe an inverse relationship between omega-3s intake and subclinical inflammation.
“After recognizing the value of CRP in predicting cardiovascular diseases, its proper function began to draw attention from many researchers,” the authors wrote. “CRP possesses proatherogenic properties similar to those of the inflammation process, and thereby can influence the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.”
Interestingly, the impact omega-3s had on circulating C-reactive protein levels was only significant in men, which could be due to the fact that men generally have significantly higher CRP levels, generally, as well as significantly higher levels of smoking and alcohol consumption.
The authors concluded that more longitudinal evidence is necessary to fully substantiate the relationship between the consumption of omega-3s and subclinical inflammation in healthy, older males.
“This is because chronic low-grade inflammation, also known as subclinical chronic inflammation, plays an important role in atherosclerosis, and [high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein] precisely and reliably reflects this condition,” the authors said.
Utilizing data sourced from 4,804 participants of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the authors of the study accounted for a number of health parameters and outcomes which were recorded through a health interview, a health examination, and nutrition surveys, followed up by dieticians’ visits to the homes of the participants.
Omega-3s intake was assessed by measuring it in a ratio with total number of calories consumed per day, and the authors defined subclinical inflammation as circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein of levels greater than 3 mg/dL.
The participants in the trial, all of whom were healthy men and women under the age of 60, were broken into four quartiles based on their omega-3s to energy intake ratios, which led the authors to observe an inverse relationship between omega-3s intake and subclinical inflammation.
“After recognizing the value of CRP in predicting cardiovascular diseases, its proper function began to draw attention from many researchers,” the authors wrote. “CRP possesses proatherogenic properties similar to those of the inflammation process, and thereby can influence the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.”
Interestingly, the impact omega-3s had on circulating C-reactive protein levels was only significant in men, which could be due to the fact that men generally have significantly higher CRP levels, generally, as well as significantly higher levels of smoking and alcohol consumption.
The authors concluded that more longitudinal evidence is necessary to fully substantiate the relationship between the consumption of omega-3s and subclinical inflammation in healthy, older males.
