Effect of Omega-3’s and Vitamin E on Inflammation, Insulin and Lipids in Parkinson’s Disease

by | Sep 9, 2020 | 2019, Brain Health, Omega - 3, Parkinson's, Vitamin E

Written by Joyce Smith, BS. This study demonstrated that, compared to placebo, co-supplementation of omega-3 and vitamin E for 12 weeks significantly increased gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), and significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

vitaminsParkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder, characterized by the gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, a region of the brain responsible for movement control. Symptoms include bradykinesia (slow movement), a lack of body balance and coordination, rigidity, tremors, and nonmotor symptoms such as depression, and cognitive impairment 1. Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines may also play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PD 2,3. A recent study showed an improvement in both motor and nonmotor symptoms, insulin metabolism and total antioxidant capacity for PD patients taking Omega-3 and vitamin E for 12 weeks 4. However, few studies have shown the gene expression effects of their co-supplementation on insulin, lipids and inflammation in PD subjects.

The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 5 was designed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression as it relates to inflammation, insulin and lipids in patients, aged 50-80 years, who were clinically diagnosed with PD. Participants were randomly allocated into either a group that supplemented with 1000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil plus 400 IU of vitamin E (n=20) or a placebo group (n=20) for 12 weeks. The outcomes were gene expression as it relates to inflammatory cytokines, insulin and lipids. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and again at 12 weeks to isolate lymphocytes, extract RNA and perform real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis to identify the presence of inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor TNF-α, PPAR-γ (associated with insulin sensitization and enhances glucose metabolism) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR, binds to low density lipoproteins [LDLs]).

Compared to placebo, at the end of the 12-weeks, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E demonstrated the following results:

  • Significantly downregulated gene expression of TNF-α (P=0.002) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of the PD participants.
  • Significantly upregulated PPAR-γ (P=0.03)
  • Significantly downregulated oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor LDLR (P=0.002)
  • No significant effect of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-8.

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. This study follows on the heels of previous studies that have shown Omega 3 and vitamin E to individually or as co-supplementation improve gene expression of inflammatory markers in a number of pathologies and, as well, improve the gene expression of lipid signaling pathways in polycystic ovarian disease 6 and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics 7. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation, due to their beneficial effects on inflammatory markers may be useful in controlling the neurological symptoms of people with PD.

Source: Tamtaji, Omid Reza, Mohsen Taghizadeh, Esmat Aghadavod, Alireza Mafi, Ehsan Dadgostar, Reza Daneshvar Kakhaki, Javad Abolhassani, and Zatollah Asemi. “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.” Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery 176 (2019): 116-121.

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Joyce Smith, BS, is a degreed laboratory technologist. She received her bachelor of arts with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology from  the University of Saskatchewan and her internship through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Bloomingdale, IL.

References:

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  3. Kouchaki E, Kakhaki RD, Tamtaji OR, et al. Increased serum levels of TNF-α and decreased serum levels of IL-27 in patients with Parkinson disease and their correlation with disease severity. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery. 2018;166:76-79.
  4. Taghizadeh M, Tamtaji OR, Dadgostar E, et al. The effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Neurochem Int. 2017;108:183-189.
  5. Tamtaji OR, Taghizadeh M, Aghadavod E, et al. 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. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery. 2019;176:116-121.
  6. Rahmani E, Samimi M, Ebrahimi FA, et al. The effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression of lipoprotein(a) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein, lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2017;439:247-255.
  7. Mansoori A, Sotoudeh G, Djalali M, et al. Effect of DHA-rich fish oil on PPARγ target genes related to lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Clin Lipidol. 2015;9(6):770-777.