Fish Oil N-3 Fatty Acids Increase Adiponectin and Decrease Leptin Levels in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Main Authors: Marcell Alysson Batisti Lozovoy, Andréa Name Colado Simão, Helena Kaminami Morimoto, Bruna Miglioranza Scavuzzi, Tathiana Veiga Mayumi Iriyoda, Edna Maria Vissoci Reiche, Rubens Cecchini, Isaias Dichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2015-02-01
• Series: Marine Drugs
• Subjects: systemic lupus erythematosus; fish oil; adiponectin; leptin; cardiovascular risk
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/13/2/1071

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as an important cause of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Reduced adiponectin and elevated leptin levels may contribute to CVD in SLE patients. The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of fish oil (FO) on adiponectin and leptin in patients with SLE. Biochemical and disease activity analysis were performed. Patients with SLE were divided in two groups: patients who used fish oil for four months and patients who did not use fish oil. Patients with SLE who used FO had a significant decrease in SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score (p ˂ 0.023) in relation to baseline. SLE patients who used fish oil had increased adiponectin levels (p ˂ 0.026) and decreased leptin levels (p ˂ 0.024) compared to baseline values, whereas there were no differences in adiponectin and leptin levels in patients with SLE who did not use fish oil. In conclusion, the findings of increased serum adiponectin an decreased leptin levels after 120 days in the fish oil group, reinforce the importance of evaluating prospective studies of fish and fish oil fish ingestion on these adipokines in an attempt to decrease cardiovascular risk factors in patients with SLE.