PP031 - OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ATTENUATES IMMUNOSENESCENCE IN OLDER ADULTS

PP031

OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ATTENUATES IMMUNOSENESCENCE IN OLDER ADULTS

C. Herpich^1,*, N. Jeschinowski¹, Y. Shah¹, L. Göger¹, D. Li¹, U. Müller-Werdan², K. Norman^1,2

¹Department of Nutrition and Gerontology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, ²Department of Geriatrics and Medical Gerontology, Charité - Universitätmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Rationale: Immunosenescence can manifest as delayed or attenuated immune responses in higher age. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) exhibit immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects[1]. We examined in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial whether eight weeks of n-3 PUFA improves immunosenescence in older community-dwelling adults.

Methods: Forty-three community-dwelling adults (25 women) took 5 mL algae oil (n=21; 609 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, 1158 mg docosahexaenoic acid) or placebo oil (n=22) daily for eight weeks. Baseline inflammatiory markers hsCRP and IL-6 were assessed using ELISA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 72h, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) quantified in supernatants at four timepoints. Group differences and changes were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA and incremental area under the curve (iAUC).

Results: Participants were on average 69.9±3.9 years old and had a BMI of 24.8±3.0 kg/m². n-3 PUFA plasma index only increased in the n-3 PUFA group showing compliance to the supplementation (4.84±1.22% to 9.99±1.67%, p<0.001). Baseline inflammation was similar between groups (IL-6: 1.86±1.75 versus 1.81±2.70 pg/mL, hsCRP: 2.47±4.39 versus 1.36±1.41 mg/L) and unchanged post-supplementation (time×group: IL6 p=0.359, hsCRP p=0.547). PBMCs of the n-3 PUFA group secreted higher TNF-α concentrations compared to the placebo (Fig. 1a), which was also seen in an overall higher TNF-α response (Fig. 1b) following LPS stimulation.

Figure 1. Change in PBMC TNF-α secretion (a.) and response (iAUC) (b.) following LPS stimulation. #indicates difference between groups. Model adjusted for unstimulated sample TNFα secretion.

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Conclusion: n-3 PUFA supplementation appears to improve PBMC responsiveness to an inflammatory trigger, thereby possibly counteracting immunosenescence. 

References: [1]DOI:10.1002/mnfr.202400752

Disclosure of Interest: None declared