Inflammation in the body is modified by the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Inflammation is often high throughout the disease process. This can be both a positive and negative result. Excessive inflammation can cause states of chronic disease and debility. Fatty acids are the starting blocks in the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Different pathways produce inflammatory mediators or anti-inflammatory mediators depending on which fatty acids were used as starting molecules.
Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids feed anti-inflammatory pathways. In this respect they are considered anti-inflammatory. This characteristic allows essential fatty acids to be a therapy for many inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and possible infection. Essential fatty acids may modulate infection in the body by decreasing inflammation. They may also accomplish this via glucose metabolism.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition conducted by Harvard Medical School examined the relationship between essential fatty acid intake and incidence of community-acquired pneumonia in men. The researchers prospectively evaluated over 38,000 men in the healthcare field over a 10 year period. Assessment of essential fatty acid intake was obtained every 4 years via food frequency questionnaires and medical information including lifestyle issues, which were updated every 2 years. Incidence of community-acquired pneumonia was documented with chest radiographs (blinded for study purposes).
In all, the incidence of community acquired pneumonia was 1.1%, or 441 new cases during the 10-year follow-up. Intake of essential fatty acids including linoleic, alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid were measured and found to be inversely correlated with risk of community acquired pneumonia. Men who consumed the greatest amounts of linoleic and alpha-linolenic essential fatty acids had the lowest risk of developing community acquired pneumonia. Increases of just 1 g/d of linoleic acid decreased the risk by 4%, while increasing alpha-linolenic acid by 1 g/d decreased risk by 31%. EPA and DHA intake did not significantly affect the risk.
The researchers conclude that higher intakes of essential fatty acids decreases the risk factors for developing community acquired pneumonia in men. This may be due to essential fatty acid modulation of the inflammatory pathways. Essential fatty acids from fish oil such as EPA and DHA may have some effect on the incidence, but results from this study were non-significant. It is safe to say that this effect may be reproducible in women as well as there is little difference between inflammatory pathways in men and women.
Posted by Kristopher Foster on January 23, 2006 09:07 AM
