The Study
Higher baseline expression of the PTGS2 gene and greater decreases in total colonic fatty acid content predict greater decreases in colonic prostaglandin-E2 concentrations after dietary supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids
This study looked at a small group of people and found that those who had more of a certain gene and less fat in their colon after eating fish oil tended to have less of a chemical linked to inflammation. But it didn’t prove that the fish oil caused the change — it just noticed a pattern.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
This study looked at why some people’s bodies reduce inflammation more than others when they take fish oil supplements.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 540 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — if you have higher body fat or lower PTGS2 gene activity, omega-3s may not reduce colon inflammation as much, even with high doses.
- 2People with higher baseline PTGS2 gene levels, lower BMI, and bigger drops in colon fat had up to 48% stronger reduction in inflammation (PGE2).
- 3EPA:AA ratio didn't predict results.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids
Year
2018
Authors
M. Wilson, Ananda Sen, D. Bridges, D. Turgeon, Dean E. Brenner, William L. Smith, M. Ruffin, Z. Djuric
Related Content
Claims (6)
Higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from food leads to lower levels of prostaglandin E2 in humans.
After 12 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, individuals with larger reductions in colonic fatty acids also show larger reductions in prostaglandin-E2, and this relationship explains 18.7% of the differences between people.
In healthy adults, people with higher baseline levels of the PTGS2 gene in their colon tissue experience a larger decrease in prostaglandin-E2 after 12 weeks of personalized omega-3 supplementation, and this gene expression level explains 13.6% of the differences in response among individuals.
People with higher body mass index before starting omega-3 supplementation experience smaller reductions in colonic prostaglandin-E2 levels after 12 weeks, and baseline BMI explains 16.1% of the differences in response between individuals.
Taking omega-3 supplements reduces prostaglandin-E2 in the colon but does not change the activity of PTGS1, PTGS2, or HPGD genes, meaning the anti-inflammatory effect occurs through a different pathway than gene expression changes.
After taking omega-3 supplements, changes in the ratio of EPA to AA in the colon do not correspond to changes in prostaglandin-E2 levels, meaning this ratio cannot be used to predict whether the colon is experiencing reduced inflammation.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.