Omega-3 Supplements Work Better with a Low Omega-6 Fat Diet
Bottomline: Eating a low omega-6 fat diet helped boost the plasma levels of omega-3 fats in children who were supplemented with fish oil.
Background: There are conflicting results on the effectiveness of fish oil for treating and preventing asthma. Omega-6 fats compete with omega-3 fats in many biochemical pathways, which influences inflammation. Yet despite this interaction, the background levels of dietary omega-6 fat are rarely controlled in studies evaluating the efficacy of fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids,which may explain the inconsistent results.
Summary: Data from the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) clinical trial, was used to investigate the impact of omega-6 fatty acids in the background diet, on the effect of the omega-3 supplementation.
The study was a randomized, parallel-group controlled trial. Pregnant women whose unborn children were at increased risk of developing asthma, were recruited and then randomized antenatally into either the control or intervention group.
The intervention diet group received tuna oil supplements in conjunction with a low omega-6 fat diet. Supplementation began when the child started bottle feeding or at age six months, which ever was earlier.
Dietary intake was assessed at 18 months by 3–day weighed food record and at 3 years by food frequency questionnaire. Plasma phospholipids were also measured at these time points.
Results: Omega-6 fatty acids in the diet were inversely related to lower plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids. A one gram increase in the dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids was associated with a 0.16% decrease in plasma n–3 PUFA levels at 18 months and a 0.05% decrease in plasma omega-3 fatty acids at three years.
Dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids was positively associated with plasma omega-6 fatty acids levels in both groups. These findings also supports earlier work showing that omega-6 fatty acids biochemically compete with omega-3 fatty acids.
Study Quote:..."the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty polyunsaturated acid supplementation in increasing plasma omega-3 fatty polyunsaturated acid levels is enhanced by restricting background dietary intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids."
Source:
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17(4):552-7.
Background: There are conflicting results on the effectiveness of fish oil for treating and preventing asthma. Omega-6 fats compete with omega-3 fats in many biochemical pathways, which influences inflammation. Yet despite this interaction, the background levels of dietary omega-6 fat are rarely controlled in studies evaluating the efficacy of fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids,which may explain the inconsistent results.
Summary: Data from the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) clinical trial, was used to investigate the impact of omega-6 fatty acids in the background diet, on the effect of the omega-3 supplementation.
The study was a randomized, parallel-group controlled trial. Pregnant women whose unborn children were at increased risk of developing asthma, were recruited and then randomized antenatally into either the control or intervention group.
The intervention diet group received tuna oil supplements in conjunction with a low omega-6 fat diet. Supplementation began when the child started bottle feeding or at age six months, which ever was earlier.
Dietary intake was assessed at 18 months by 3–day weighed food record and at 3 years by food frequency questionnaire. Plasma phospholipids were also measured at these time points.
Results: Omega-6 fatty acids in the diet were inversely related to lower plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids. A one gram increase in the dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids was associated with a 0.16% decrease in plasma n–3 PUFA levels at 18 months and a 0.05% decrease in plasma omega-3 fatty acids at three years.
Dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids was positively associated with plasma omega-6 fatty acids levels in both groups. These findings also supports earlier work showing that omega-6 fatty acids biochemically compete with omega-3 fatty acids.
Study Quote:..."the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty polyunsaturated acid supplementation in increasing plasma omega-3 fatty polyunsaturated acid levels is enhanced by restricting background dietary intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids."
Source:
Hoyos C, Almqvist C, Garden F, Xuan W, Oddy WH, Marks GB, and Webb KL.
Effect of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid intakes from diet and supplements on plasma fatty acid levels in the first 3 years of life.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17(4):552-7.
Posted by Evelyn Tribole MSRD at March 6, 2009 3:48 PM 
Categories: Nutrition, inflammation, asthma, Omega-6 Fat, polyunsaturated fatty acids, 2008 Studies, Intervention Study (Low Omega-6), Abstract
Tags: omega-6 fat asthma omega-3 fat polyunsaturated fatty acids
Categories: Nutrition, inflammation, asthma, Omega-6 Fat, polyunsaturated fatty acids, 2008 Studies, Intervention Study (Low Omega-6), Abstract
Tags: omega-6 fat asthma omega-3 fat polyunsaturated fatty acids
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