Effects of marine N-3 fatty acids on circulating levels of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with chronic heart failure

Inflammatory markers as circulating soluble cellular adhesion molecules (sCAMs) and high sensitive C—reactive protein (hsCRP) are elevated in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and may constitute an increased risk of adverse outcome. Marine n—3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n—3 PUFA) may have anti—inflammatory effect and reduce levels of sCAMs (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule—1 (sICAM—1), vascular adhesion molecule—1 (sVCAM—1), P—selectin) and hsCRP. In a randomized, controlled trial, 138 patients with NYHA class II—III CHF were allocated to receive a daily supplement of 0.9 g of n—3 PUFA or olive—oil for 24 weeks. After supplementation, no significant changes occurred in sCAMs or hsCRP after adjusting for possible confounders. However, a significant reduction was observed in sP—selectin in patients receiving n—3 PUFA, but this result was only of borderline significance in a between— group analysis. In conclusion, a daily supplement with 0.9 g of n—3 PUFA does not significantly affect plasma levels of sCAMs or hs—CRP in patients with CHF. n—3 PUFA may reduce sP—selectin, indicating a possible effect on platelet (and endothelial) activation. The results also indicate that the low dose of n—3 PUFA used in many intervention trials does not have deleterious effects on sCAMs or hsCRP.