Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Calder PC. 2017. Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man. Biochemical Society Transactions 45(5):1105-1115

2017

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Summary

This narrative review by Philip Calder synthesises evidence on the anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving roles of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, tracing mechanistic pathways from cellular and molecular biology through to clinical relevance in humans. The paper likely discusses how dietary intake of omega-3s influences membrane phospholipid composition, eicosanoid biosynthesis, and the production of specialised pro-resolving mediators. It represents a comprehensive overview of the field as of 2017, drawing on both experimental and observational evidence to assess health implications.

UK applicability

The findings are internationally applicable and directly relevant to UK public health, given that UK dietary surveys consistently show omega-3 intakes below recommended levels. The review informs UK dietary guidelines and is pertinent to debates around food reformulation, fish consumption, and the nutritional quality of farmed versus wild animal products.

Key measures

Inflammatory biomarkers (e.g. cytokines, eicosanoids, resolvins, protectins); EPA and DHA tissue incorporation; markers of immune cell function

Outcomes reported

The paper examines the mechanisms by which omega-3 fatty acids — principally EPA and DHA — modulate inflammatory processes at the molecular level and their implications for human health. It likely reviews evidence on biomarkers of inflammation, eicosanoid production, and resolution mediators such as resolvins and protectins.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Dietary fats & fatty acids
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Human clinical
Catalogue ID
XL1028

Topic tags

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