Effects of Fish Oil on HIV-Related Inflammation and Markers of Immunosenescence: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and efficacy of fish oil to modulate parameters of inflammation and immunosenescence in HIV-infected older adults.

DESIGN: This study uses a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

SETTING: The study was conducted in an outpatient HIV/AIDS clinic in a large urban Midwestern city in the United States.

SUBJECTS: A total of 37 clinically stable HIV-infected adults between the ages of 40 and 70 years of age participated.

INTERVENTIONS: Fish oil 1.6 g/day was administered for 12 weeks or placebo.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Inflammatory cytokine production, surface markers of immunosenescence, and adverse events were measured.

RESULTS: After 12 weeks of supplementation, there were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups on any measures of inflammation or immunosenescence in both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. More participants in the treatment group reported adverse gastrointestinal events compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week supplementation regimen of 1.6 g/day of fish oil did not favorably modulate parameters of inflammation or immune senescence in HIV-infected adults. Future studies should test agents that directly target mechanisms that underlie HIV-related inflammation to determine whether reducing inflammation can reverse immunosenescence.