The effect on human tumor necrosis factor a and interleukin 1 J3 production of diets enriched in n-3 fatty acids from vegetable oil or fish oi113

The effect of a flaxseed oil-based diet on tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) and interleukin lj3 (IL-I f3) synthesis was examined in healthy volunteers. Use of flaxseed oil in domestic food preparation for 4 wk inhibited TNFa and IL-l production by ‘30%. Fish-oil supplementation (9 g/d) continued for a further 4 wk; TNFa and IL-l synthesis were inhibited by 74% and 80%, respectively. There was a significant inverse exponential relation between TNFa or IL1 /3 synthesis and mononuclear cell content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an n-3 fatty acid derived from ingested EPA (fish oil) or metabolism of ingested a-linolenic acid (flaxseed oil). Cytokine production decreased as cellular EPA increased to = I % of total fatty acids. Further increases in EPA content did not result in further decreases in cytokine production. The results indicate that vegetable oils rich in n-3 fatty acids inhibit TNFa and IL-l synthesis. Am J C/in Nutr 1996;63: