Randomized controlled trial of oral omega-3 PUFA in solar-simulated radiation-induced suppression of human cutaneous immune responses.

Study answer

What this study found

Oral EPA-rich omega-3 PUFA showed a limited protective effect against solar-simulated radiation-induced photoimmunosuppression. Across the 3 SSR doses, the between-group difference in nickel contact hypersensitivity suppression was 6.9% (P = 0.13), but at 3.8 J/cm2 the PUFA group had 11% less suppression than control (95% CI: 0.5%, 21.4%; P = 0.04). RBC EPA increased more in the PUFA arm than in control (3.62% vs 0.92%; mean difference 2.69%, 95% CI: 2.23%, 3.14%; P < 0.001). The authors concluded that EPA-rich omega-3 PUFAs may abrogate photoimmunosuppression in human skin, although…

Study & population

Randomized controlled trial in nickel-allergic adult women with sun-sensitive skin types I or II enrolled at a single center in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Intervention

Oral EPA-rich omega-3 PUFA capsules were given at 5 capsules per day with breakfast for 12 weeks.

Key limitation

Small, highly selected sample of nickel-allergic women with phototypes I-II from one UK center limits generalizability.

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Original abstract