Are omega-3 supplements as beneficial as researchers once believed? Not when it comes to inflammation, a new study suggests. Share on Pinterest Omega-3 supplements are not as beneficial for health as people once thought. Recent studies show that taking supplements to increase vitamin D and omega-3 levels may not reduce systemic inflammation. The new research, which drew from the VITAL study, aimed to determine the biomarker levels of several inflammation indicators in people either taking or not taking vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplements, or fish oil. After 1 year, the study found no marked difference in levels between the two groups. Dr. Karen Costenbader — the director of the Lupus Program in the Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA — is the corresponding author of the study. The results now appear in the journal Clinical Chemistry.

Why are markers of inflammation important? Inflammation is a key prognostic marker of several life threatening conditions — especially those associated with aging and obesity. These include cardiovascular disease, heart failure, osteoporosis, some neurodegenerative conditions (including Alzheimer’s disease), diabetes, and some cancers. Many people use vitamin D supplements and fish oil to reduce systemic inflammation and help prevent the onset of such conditions. However, the researchers behind the new study found that neither vitamin D nor fish oil can reduce systemic inflammation, and in some cases, inflammation markers were actually higher in people taking these supplements than in those not taking them. Dr. Costenbader and team looked at interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-receptor 2 (TNFR2), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Individually, these markers have pivotal roles in the onset of inflammation. Being able to detect increased levels of these markers in the blood can be a prognostic tool to inform healthcare professionals about a person’s levels of inflammation.

What was the purpose of the study? Many people take vitamin D and fish oil supplements believing that they can help reduce inflammation. However, healthcare professionals may find it difficult to determine how to advise their patients about which supplements to take, and which dosages may be best. This is because there is a lack of clinical trial data to inform treatment. The VITAL study aimed to provide the clinical data necessary to help healthcare professionals better inform their patients. The ongoing VITAL study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which researchers investigate the effects of vitamin D, omega-3, or both on the levels of IL-6, TNFR2, and hsCRP in the blood. For this research, the participants took 2,000 international units of vitamin D, 1 gram of omega-3, or both per day. Some received a placebo instead. The scientists took an initial measurement at the beginning of the trial, which they compared with measurements they took a year later. In the future, this trial will also investigate the effects of supplementation on the risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer.