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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #180373

Title: EFFECT OF CONCOMITANT CONSUMPTION OF FISH OIL AND VITAMIN E ON PRODUCTION OF INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN HEALTHY ELDERLY HUMANS

Author
item WU, DAYONG - TUFTS/HNRCA
item HAN, SUNG NIM - TUFTS/HNRCA
item MEYDANI, MOHSEN - TUFTS/HNRCA
item MEYDANI, SIMIN - TUFTS/HNRCA

Submitted to: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/18/2004
Publication Date: 12/14/2004
Citation: Wu, D., Han, S., Meydani, M., Meydani, S.N. 2004. Effect of concomitant consumption of fish oil and vitamin E on production of inflammatory cytokines in healthy elderly humans. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences. 1031:422-424.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A beneficial effect of fish oil in reducing inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases has been suggested. This effect occurs in part through fish oil’s inhibition of synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Epidemiologic studies have shown a link between increased intake of vitamin E in diet and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Since pro-inflammatory cytokines have been indicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, the current study was designed to determine the effect of concomitant consumption of fish oil and vitamin E on interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Healthy elderly subjects consumed fish oil plus different doses of vitamin E for 3 months. The results indicated that, in general, fish oil inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and vitamin E did not interfere with this effect of fish oil; rather its supplementation might further contribute to the fish oil-induced inhibition of these cytokines, in particular at the 200mg/d dose.