Omega-3 supplementation changes the physical properties of leukocytes but not erythrocytes in healthy individuals

An exploratory trial

authored by

Jan Philipp Schuchardt, Martin Kräter, Maximilian Schlögel, Jochen Guck, Brigitte A van Oirschot-Hermans, Jennifer Bos, Richard van Wijk, Nathan L Tintle, Jason Westra, Felix Kerlikowsky, Andreas Hahn, William S Harris

Abstract

n3-PUFA impact health in several ways, including cardiovascular protection and anti-inflammatory effects, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this exploratory study involving 31 healthy subjects, we aimed to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of fish-oil supplementation (1500 mg EPA+DHA/day) on the physical properties of multiple blood cell types. We used deformability cytometry (DC) for all cell types and Laser-assisted Optical Rotational Red Cell Analysis (Lorrca) to assess red blood cell (RBC) deformability. We also investigated the correlation between changes in the physical properties of blood cells and changes in the Omega-3 Index (O3I), defined as the relative content of EPA+DHA in RBCs. Following supplementation, the mean±SD O3I increased from 5.3 %±1.5 % to 8.3 %±1.4 % (p < 0.001). No significant changes in RBC properties were found by both techniques. However, by DC we observed a consistent pattern of physical changes in lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes. Among these were significant increases in metrics correlated with the cells' deformability resulting in less stiff cells. The results suggest that leukocytes become softer and have an increased ability to deform under induced short-term physical stress such as hydrodynamic force in the circulation. These changes could impact immune function since softer leukocytes can potentially circulate more easily and could facilitate a more rapid response to systemic inflammation or infection. In conclusion, fish-oil supplementation modulates some physical properties of leukocyte-subfractions, potentially enhancing their biological function. Further studies are warranted to explore the impact of n3-PUFA on blood cell biology, particularly in disease states associated with leukocyte dysregulation.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Food and One Health
Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Nutrition Physiology and Human Nutrition Section

External Organisation(s)

Utrecht University
University of Illinois at Chicago
Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI)
University of South Dakota
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light
Max Planck Center for Physics and Medicine

Type

Article

Journal

Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids

Volume

202

ISSN

0952-3278

Publication date

03.2024

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Biochemistry, Cell Biology

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2024.102636 (Access: Open)