A randomised trial of the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements on the human intestinal microbiota
Watson H, Mitra S, Croden FC, Taylor M, Wood HM, Perry SL, Spencer JA, Quirke P, Toogood GJ, Lawton CL, Dye L, Loadman PM, Hull MA
Gut · 355 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Mechanisms only
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- Medical Research Council
- Grants
- Medical Research Council (MC_G1002465)
Based on 1 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2017-09-26 · Gut · vol. 67 · issue 11 · pp. 1974–1983
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Cited
- 510 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 20.0× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 39 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Fatty Acid Research and Health · Gut microbiota and health · Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection
- Keywords
- Eicosapentaenoic acid, Polyunsaturated fatty acid, Docosahexaenoic acid, Arachidonic acid, Bifidobacterium, Biology, Fatty acid, Microbiome, Omega 3 fatty acid, Lactobacillus, Food science, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Fermentation
- MeSH
- feces, humans, fatty acids, omega-3, fatty acids, chromatography, liquid, cross-over studies, polymerase chain reaction, dietary supplements, aged, middle aged, female, male, mass spectrometry, healthy volunteers, gastrointestinal microbiome
13 authors
From GB
- Henry WatsonUniversity of Leeds; St James's University Hospital
- Suparna MitraLeeds General Infirmary; University of Leeds
- Fiona CrodenUniversity of Leeds
- Morag TaylorUniversity of Leeds; St James's University Hospital
- Henry M. WoodUniversity of Leeds; St James's University Hospital
- Sarah PerryUniversity of Leeds; St James's University Hospital
Abstract
Objective
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have anticolorectal cancer (CRC) activity. The intestinal microbiota has been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. Dietary omega-3 PUFAs alter the mouse intestinal microbiome compatible with antineoplastic activity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of omega-3 PUFA supplements on the faecal microbiome in middle-aged, healthy volunteers (n=22).
Design
A randomised, open-label, cross-over trial of 8 weeks' treatment with 4 g mixed eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid in two formulations (soft-gel capsules and Smartfish drinks), separated by a 12-week 'washout' period. Faecal samples were collected at five time-points for microbiome analysis by 16S ribosomal RNA PCR and Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid analysis was performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Results
Both omega-3 PUFA formulations induced similar changes in RBC fatty acid content, except that drinks were associated with a larger, and more prolonged, decrease in omega-6 PUFA arachidonic acid than the capsule intervention (p=0.02). There were no significant changes in α or β diversity, or phyla composition, associated with omega-3 PUFA supplementation. However, a reversible increased abundance of several genera, including Bifidobacterium, Roseburia and Lactobacillus was observed with one or both omega-3 PUFA interventions. Microbiome changes did not correlate with RBC omega-3 PUFA incorporation or development of omega-3 PUFA-induced diarrhoea. There were no treatment order effects.
Conclusion
Omega-3 PUFA supplementation induces a reversible increase in several short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, independently of the method of administration. There is no simple relationship between the intestinal microbiome and systemic omega-3 PUFA exposure.
Trial registration number
ISRCTN18662143.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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