Study shows that an anti-inflammatory diet helps with inflammation and oxidative & metabolic stress in overweight men
My last blog post talked about the role of fatty acids and inflammation in disease development. I just read a study performed by scientists in the Netherlands who used the supplements Resveratrol, vitamins C and E, green tea extract, Omega 3 fatty acids and tomato extract, all chosen for their evidence-based anti-inflammatory properties, to see if they would lesson inflammation.
During the study, the above-named supplements were combined and given to 36 healthy but overweight men with mildly elevated plasma C-reactive protein concentrations (the CRP level is a blood test that shows the level of inflammation in an individual’s system). The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with treatment periods of 5 weeks. Inflammatory and oxidative stress defense markers were measured via blood and urine testing. 120 plasma proteins, 274 plasma metabolites (lipids, free fatty acids, and polar compounds), and the transcriptomes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and adipose tissue were also measured.
The results of the study were mixed. On the positive side, the plasma adiponectin concentrations increased by 7% (low concentrations of plasma adiponectin are found in obese individuals and predict the development of type 2 diabetes) but C-reactive protein levels were unchanged, thereby suggesting that inflammation wasn’t reduced by the supplements. However, many subtle changes were detected such as decreased inflammation of fatty tissue, improved endothelial function, affected oxidative stress, and increased liver fatty acid oxidation, all positive indicators that supplements were effective in creating positive health changes in the participants.
It’s important to pay attention to this kind of information, as more and more scientists are developing an interest in and studies of supplements as counterbalancing mechanisms against stress, pollution, aging and as disease prevention.
A copy of the trial can be found through this link.Â
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