Supplementation of Dihomo-γ-Linolenic Acid for Pollen-Induced Allergic Symptoms in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) is an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects in mice and cell study. To date, however, no human intervention study has examined the effects of DGLA. Therefore, we investigated the effects of DGLA on pollen-induced allergic symptoms in healthy adults. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study comprising healthy Japanese men and women. Each subject received four 250 mg capsules providing 314 mg DGLA/day (DGLA group, n = 18) or olive oil (placebo group, n = 15) for 15 weeks. The primary outcomes, classification of the severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms (CSARS), and the Japanese Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JRQLQ) served as symptom scores during the pollen season. In the DGLA group, the cedar pollen associated symptoms of sneezing and a blocked nose in the CSARS were significantly lower than those in the placebo group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). Significant trends were observed the symptoms of runny nose in the CSARS and total symptom score (TSS) in the JRQLQ for cedar pollen (p < 0.1). To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the effects of DGLA in humans, and the results suggest that DGLA is effective in reducing allergic symptoms caused by pollen.