1. Academic Validation
  2. The combination of vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids has an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect on microglia

The combination of vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids has an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect on microglia

  • Neurochem Int. 2016 Oct:99:206-214. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2016.07.008.
E Kurtys 1 U L M Eisel 2 J M Verkuyl 3 L M Broersen 3 R A J O Dierckx 1 E F J de Vries 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
  • 2 Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Center for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
  • 3 Nutricia Research, Uppsalalaan 12, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • 4 Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: E.F.J.de.Vries@umcg.nl.
Abstract

Neuroinflammation is a common phenomenon in the pathology of many brain diseases. In this paper we explore whether selected Vitamins and fatty acids known to modulate inflammation exert an effect on microglia, the key cell type involved in neuroinflammation. Previously these nutrients have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory properties acting on specific inflammatory pathways. We hypothesized that combining nutrients acting on converging anti-inflammatory pathways may lead to enhanced anti-inflammatory properties as compared to the action of a single nutrient. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of combinations of nutrients based on the ability to inhibit the LPS-induced release of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 from BV-2 cells. Results show that omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins A and D can individually reduce the LPS-induced secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines by BV-2 cells. Moreover, we show that Vitamins A, D and omega-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic) at concentrations where they individually had little effect, significantly reduced the secretion of the inflammatory mediator, nitric oxide, when they were combined. The conclusion of this study is that combining different nutrients acting on convergent anti-inflammatory pathways may result in an increased anti-inflammatory efficacy.

Keywords

Fatty acids; Microglia; Neuroinflammation; Nutrition; Retinoic acid receptor α; Vitamins.

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