Environmental exposure to diesel particulate matter and commercial gasoline in gas station workers might induce oxidative stress and changes in the balance of the immune system. In this study, the immunomodulatory impacts of omega 3 fatty acid (ω3FA) supplement were assessed on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in gas station workers in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Fifty-three men working in gas stations were treated with ω3FA (n = 29) or placebo (n = 24) for 60 days. C-reactive protein, interleukin-12 (IL-12), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method before and after the completion of the trial. The concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-17 were significantly decreased in ω3FA group compared with the placebo group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the levels of inhibitory cytokines including TGF-β and IL-10 significantly were increased in ω3FA group (P < 0.001). Overall, ω3FA nutritional supplementation can be useful in reducing inflammatory immune responses and maintaining immune tolerance in people with high exposure to inflammation-inducing factors. [Figure: see text].
Keywords: C-reactive protein; inflammation; interferon-gamma; interleukin-10; interleukin-12; omega 3; tumor necrosis factor-alpha.