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Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation and anxiety in medical students: A randomized controlled trial
Several studies have demonstrated the link between inflammation, depression, lower omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and higher omega-6 (n-6) PUFAs levels, however, the evidence from randomized control trials (RCTs) remains unclear. In their works, Kiecolt-Glaser et al. (2011) examined 68 medical students to understand if n-3 supplementation reduced proinflammatory cytokine production and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression in a parallel group, placebo-controlled, double-blind 12-week RCT. The participants were given either n-3 (2.5 g/d, 2085 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 348 mg docosahexaenoic acid) or equi-caloric placebo capsules, and had blood samples drawn on lower and higher stress intervals (days prior to scheduled exams). The authors observed that students receiving n-3 showed a 14% reduction in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated interleukin 6 (IL-6) and a reduction of 20% in symptoms of anxiety compared to controls. No substantial impact was observed on symptoms of depression in either group. To account for potential variabilities in absorption, metabolism, and adherence to n-3 PUFA intervention, the authors analyzed plasma n-6:n-3 ratio, demonstrating that a lower n-6:n-3 ratio correlated with a reduction in anxiety symptoms and in stimulated IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release. The authors comment that these findings postulate a role of n-3 PUFA in decreasing inflammation and anxiety in healthy young adults and that n-3 may be explored as an anxiolytic intervention in individuals regardless of prior diagnosis of anxiety disorder. [NPID: Fish oil, omega-3, omega-6, inflammation, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, psychoneuroimmunology, nutritional neuroscience, anxiety]
Year: 2011
