Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation and immunity.

P C Calder1, R F Grimble

  • 1Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. pcc@soton.ac.uk

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|July 27, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, counteract inflammatory responses by reducing arachidonic acid availability. This modulation of eicosanoids and immune cells offers potential therapies for inflammatory and immune disorders.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

An overview of national and international long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake recommendations for healthy populations.

Nutrition research reviews·2025
Same author

Modelling the influence of vitamin D and probiotic supplementation on the microbiome and immune response.

Mathematical medicine and biology : a journal of the IMA·2024
Same author

Building trust and increasing inclusion in public health research: co-produced strategies for engaging UK ethnic minority communities in research.

Public health·2024
Same author

Leukotriene B<sub>4</sub> limits the effectiveness of fish oil in an animal model of asthma.

Heliyon·2021
Same author

Genetically modified plants are an alternative to oily fish for providing <i>n</i>-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human diet: A summary of the findings of a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded project.

Nutrition bulletin·2021
Same author

Intravenous omega-3 fatty acids are associated with better clinical outcome and less inflammation in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis: A randomised double blind controlled trial.

Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)·2020

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • N-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, like arachidonic acid, are precursors to inflammatory mediators (eicosanoids) that regulate immune cell activity and cytokine production.
  • Current consumption patterns show a significant imbalance, with n-6 fatty acids greatly exceeding n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in modulating inflammatory pathways.
  • To explore the potential therapeutic applications of n-3 fatty acids in inflammatory and immune-related disorders.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the biochemical interactions between n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and their impact on eicosanoid production.
  • It examines how dietary intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids affects cellular levels of arachidonic acid and subsequent inflammatory mediator synthesis.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly from fish oil, reduces the availability of arachidonic acid in cell membranes.
  • This reduction leads to decreased production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, acting as an antagonist to arachidonic acid.
  • N-3 fatty acids influence both innate and adaptive immunity, affecting cytokine production and immune system balance, potentially through both eicosanoid-dependent and independent mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can antagonize arachidonic acid's pro-inflammatory effects by altering eicosanoid production.
  • These fatty acids show promise as a therapeutic strategy for managing acute and chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation.