The effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background and Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid in subjects with Parkinson s disease (PD). Materials and Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, registered in the Iranian website of registration (http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2017061234497N1) was performed in 40 subjects with PD. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 1000 mg/day of omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil plus 400 IU/day of vitamin E supplements or placebo (n = 20 each group) for 12 weeks. Gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid were quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of PD patients with RT-PCR method. Findings: After the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co supplementation down regulated gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P = 0.002) in PBMC of subjects with PD. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation up regulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (P = 0.03), and down regulated oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) (P = 0.002) in PBMC of subjects with PD compared with the placebo. We did not observe any significant effect of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression of interleukin- 1 (IL-1) and IL-8 in PBMC of patients with PD.Conclusions: Overall, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation for 12 weeks in PD patients significantly improved gene expression of TNF-α, PPAR-γ and LDLR, but did not affect IL-1 and IL-8.

Keywords:

Supplementation , Parkinson’s disease , Inflammation , Insulin , metabolism