C-reactive protein and n-3 fatty acids in patients with a previous myocardial infarction: a placebo-controlled...

Dietary intake of the marine long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may reduce mortality after a myocardial infarction (MI). This may partly be attributed to their anti-inflammatory properties.

To investigate the effect of n-3 PUFA on C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with a previous MI.

In a double-blind design, forty-one patients (mean age 63 +/- 7 years) were randomized to receive daily supplements with 5.2 g of n-3 PUFA or olive oil (control). Serum CRP was measured with a highly sensitive assay (hs-CRP) before and after 12 weeks supplements. Compliance was monitored by measuring the incorporation of n-3 PUFA into platelets.

The content of n-3 PUFA in platelets increased significantly in the n-3 PUFA supplemented group, whereas no changes were seen in controls. There was a minor increase in hs-CRP in the n-3 PUFA group (2.46 vs. 2.70 mg/l) and a small decrease in hs-CRP in the control group (2.52 vs. 1.67 mg/l). The changes, however, were not statistically significant (P = 0.30 and 0.43, respectively).

Supplementation with 5.2 g of n-3 PUFA for 12 weeks had no hs-CRP lowering effect in patients with a previous MI.