Serum levels of interleukin-18 are reduced by diet and n-3 fatty acid intervention in elderly high-risk men

Inflammation plays a central role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, and inflammatory markers have been reported to predict cardiovascular events. Mediterranean-like diet and very long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation have been reported to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, but the mechanisms are not fully clarified. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effect of such interventions on serum levels of inflammatory markers, and potential associations with changes in serum fatty acids and anthropometric measures. This was a randomized 2 × 2 factorial-designed trial comparing the effect of 3 years of dietary counseling, n-3 PUFA supplementation (2.4 g/d), or both on different measures of atherosclerosis in elderly high-risk men (N = 563). Levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) were decreased by diet (−10.5% vs baseline, P = .012 compared with no diet) and by n-3 PUFA supplementation (−9.9% vs baseline, P = .008 compared with placebo). Other measured inflammatory markers were not affected. Changes in IL-18 were significantly correlated to changes in triglycerides (r = 0.20, P < .001), eicosapentaenoic acid (r = −0.14, P = .030), docosahexaenoic acid (r = −0.14, P = .034), body mass index (r = 0.16, P < .001), and waist circumference (r = 0.12, P = .007). In conclusion, levels of IL-18 were significantly reduced by Mediterranean-like diet and n-3 PUFA supplementation. However, the changes correlated only weakly to changes in triglycerides, serum fatty acids, and anthropometric measures. The cardioprotective effects of both interventions might thus in part be explained by reduced levels of IL-18, but probably beyond changes in serum fatty acids and body composition.