Dietary Intake of n-3 PUFA-Enriched Hen Eggs Changes Inflammatory Markers’ Concentration and Treg/Th17 Cells Distribution in Blood of Young Healthy Adults—A Randomised Study

Abstract

In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated acid (PUFA) supplementation (~1053 mg/per day), i.e., α-linolenic (~230 mg), eicosapentaenoic (~15 mg), and docosahexaenoic acid (~105 mg), through hen eggs, on pro- and anti-inflammatory parameters in healthy individuals (23.8 ± 2.57 years old). Here, we demonstrate differential effects of regular hen eggs (N = 21; W/M = 10/11) and n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs (N = 19; W/M = 10/9) consumption on the serum levels of lipid mediators, representation of peripheral T helper cell subsets (recently activated T-helper cells, nTreg, Th17 and non-Th17-IL-17A secreting T-helper lymphocytes) and their functional capacity for cytokine secretion. Both diets significantly altered systemic levels of pro-inflammatory and inflammation resolving lipid mediators; however, only the n-3 PUFAs group showed a significant shift towards anti-inflammatory prostanoids and increased levels of pro-resolving oxylipins. Both study groups showed reduced frequencies of peripheral nTreg lymphocytes and decreased rates of peripheral Th17 cells. Their functional capacity for cytokine secretion was significantly altered only in the n-3 PUFAs group in terms of increased transforming growth factor β-1 and reduced interleukin 6 secretion. Diet supplemented with n-3 PUFAs alters immune response towards inflammation resolving conditions through effects on lipid mediators and cytokine secretion by T lymphocytes in human model without underlying comorbidities.