Effects of controlled diets enriched with alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid on soluble adhesion molecules and endothelin-1 concentrations in healthy volunteers

The consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may protect against atherosclerotic diseases, and the blood concentrations of soluble cellular adhesion molecules (sCAMs) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) possibly reflect the inflammatory processes underlying atherosclerosis. However, knowledge of the differential effects of dietary n-3 fatty acids on markers of inflammation is incomplete. Our aim was to compare the effects of dietary alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on serum levels of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1). Therefore, a randomized strictly controlled dietary study in 48 healthy volunteers (mean age 25.9 years) with three dietary groups and a parallel design, consisting of two consecutive periods was conducted. Subjects received a 2-week wash-in diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids followed by experimental diets enriched with equal amounts of ALA, EPA, or DHA for 3 weeks. The concentrations of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin, as well as ET-1, did not significantly change after consuming the ALA-, EPA- or DHA-diet. In conclusion, in healthy young subjects without established cardiovascular risk factors and under the condition of a three-week intervention period, neither ALA nor EPA nor DHA significantly affected levels of sCAM or ET-1.