Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Control The Inflammatory Cascade?

There are many different ways omega-3 fatty acids actually work to reduce inflammation.

One way is to alter the omega-3/omega-6 ratio (more omega-3 than omega-6), which could lead to the production of less inflammatory molecules and could lower inflammatory levels.

However, there is also some inflammation that is caused by macrophages in your body.

Macrophage-mediated tissue inflammation has been shown to be a key component for insulin resistance and obesity.

Macrophages are cells found in the human body that help in many different ways, from eating and digesting harmful bacteria, to stimulating your lymphocytes to produce an immune response against invading organisms.

Now, according to a study published in the journal Cell, omega-3 fatty acids could stimulate certain macrophages, which could decrease inflammation levels.

Let me explain…

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Inflammation

The authors of this study aimed to determine how omega-3 fatty acids and macrophages reduced inflammation

According to this study, GPR120 receptors located on macrophage cells could act as a sensor or a receptor site for omega-3 fatty acids.

GPR120 is a protein in your body that mediates the inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects of omega-3 fatty acids.  It is expressed in macrophages and other cells, and could be present in large amounts in obesity.   A lack of the GPR120 protein could reduce fat metabolism, and may lead to obesity.

Some research has shown that the GPR120 receptor could possess broad anti-inflammatory properties in two types of macrophages: RAW264.7 cells and primary intraperitoneal macrophages.

The researchers fed both WT (wild-type) rats and GPR120 knockout rats a 60% high-fat diet for 15 weeks.

GPR120 knockout mice are mice genetically altered to not have the GPR120 protein, and WT mice are normal mice.

After 15 weeks, the rats were separated into groups of 15 mice, who were then fed a 60% high-fat diet with or without the addition of omega-3 fatty acids for an additional 5 weeks.

The meal containing the omega-3 fatty acids provided 50 mg DHA and 100 mg EPA per mouse per day.

They discovered that omega-3 fatty acids inhibited inflammation and also improved insulin sensitivity in the WT mice.

However, the omega-3 fatty acids showed no effects in the GPR120 knockout mice group.

They concluded that GPR120 could be an omega-3 fatty acid receptor, and can possess both anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing, and anti-diabetic related effects due to the suppression of macrophage-induced tissue inflammation.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Your Health

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve many different aspects of health.

From improving vision to brain health, and heart health, omega-3 fatty acids are continuing to be shown to be important for your health.

In fact, omega-3 fatty acids, according to this study, have been shown to reduce inflammation by stimulating the action of macrophages.

Although this research needs to be verified and validated, this could provide a new way to treat chronic, internal inflammation, which has been shown to lead to the development of many different diseases and negative health conditions.

Including more omega-3 fatty acids could provide a good preventative step in maintaining optimal health.


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References:

Oh, DY.  Talukdar, S.  Bae, EJ.  Imamura, T.  Morinaga, H.  Fan, WQ.  Li, P.  Lu, W.  Watkins, S.  Olefsky, J.  GPR120 is an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Receptor Mediating Potent Anti-Inflammatory and Insulin-Sensitizing Effects.  Cell.  2010. Vol. 142 (5):pp. 687-698.