Reduced ex vivo stimulated IL-6 response in infants randomized to fish oil from 9 to 18 months, especially among PPARG2 and COX2 wild types

We investigated whether n−3 LCPUFA affected immune function in late infancy and explored effect-modification by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and links to intestinal microbiota. Infants (n=105) were randomized to fish oil (FO, 1.2 g/d n−3 LCPUFA) or sunflower oil (SO)-supplements from age 9–18 months. Immune function was assessed by ex vivo cytokine production in stimulated blood and plasma immunoglobulin E (IgE). We genotyped functional SNPs in PPARG2 and COX2 and analyzed fecal microbiota by 16S-rRNA terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. FO compared to SO reduced Lactobacillus paracasei-stimulated IL-6 at 18 months (P=0.03, n=104). This effect was most pronounced among infants wild-type for PPARG2-Pro12Ala and/or COX2-T8473C (P<0.05). Predominant bacterial fragments were associated with 18 months IgE in all infants (P=0.004) (bp100) and with IL-6 production among infants weaned before 9 months (P=0.047) (bp102). Thus, FO reduced IL-6 in a genotype-modified manner. The microbiota was partly linked to IL-6 and IgE, not directly to FO.