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Fish oil N-3 fatty acids increase adiponectin and decrease leptin levels in patients with systemic lupus
Marcell Alysson Batisti Lozovoy1, Andréa Name Colado Simão2, Helena Kaminami Morimoto3
1Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, Rua Robert Koch, University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná 86038-440, Brazil. marcell_lozovoy@hotmail.com.
Insights
Fish oil supplementation significantly reduced disease activity and improved cardiovascular risk factors in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. It increased adiponectin and decreased leptin levels, suggesting a potential benefit for managing SLE complications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology and Rheumatology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- Altered levels of adiponectin (reduced) and leptin (elevated) are implicated in CVD development within the SLE population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of fish oil (FO) supplementation on adiponectin and leptin levels in patients diagnosed with SLE.
- To assess the effect of FO on disease activity in SLE patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving SLE patients divided into two groups: one receiving fish oil (FO) for four months, and a control group not using FO.
- Biochemical analyses and disease activity assessments, including the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), were conducted.
- Serum levels of adiponectin and leptin were measured before and after the intervention period.
Main Results:
- Patients using FO demonstrated a significant reduction in SLEDAI scores compared to baseline (p < 0.023).
- Fish oil supplementation led to a significant increase in adiponectin levels (p < 0.026) and a significant decrease in leptin levels (p < 0.024) from baseline.
- No significant changes in adiponectin or leptin levels were observed in the SLE patients who did not use fish oil.
Conclusions:
- Fish oil intake for 120 days positively modulated adipokine profiles, increasing adiponectin and decreasing leptin in SLE patients.
- These findings highlight the potential role of fish oil in mitigating cardiovascular risk factors associated with SLE.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm the benefits of fish and fish oil consumption on adipokines and cardiovascular outcomes in SLE.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as an important cause of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Reduced adiponectin and elevated leptin levels may contribute to CVD in SLE patients. The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of fish oil (FO) on adiponectin and leptin in patients with SLE. Biochemical and disease activity analysis were performed. Patients with SLE were divided in two groups: patients who used fish oil for four months and patients who did not use fish oil. Patients with SLE who used FO had a significant decrease in SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score (p ˂ 0.023) in relation to baseline. SLE patients who used fish oil had increased adiponectin levels (p ˂ 0.026) and decreased leptin levels (p ˂ 0.024) compared to baseline values, whereas there were no differences in adiponectin and leptin levels in patients with SLE who did not use fish oil. In conclusion, the findings of increased serum adiponectin an decreased leptin levels after 120 days in the fish oil group, reinforce the importance of evaluating prospective studies of fish and fish oil fish ingestion on these adipokines in an attempt to decrease cardiovascular risk factors in patients with SLE.
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