(OR22-06-25) Protein and/or Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Reduces Inflammation and Improves Lipid Profiles in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Chronic inflammation and lipid dysregulation contribute significantly to cardiometabolic diseases in postmenopausal women. This study evaluated the effects of protein (PRO) and/or omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation over 16 weeks on inflammatory markers and cardiometabolic health in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity.

Methods: In this 16-week randomized, controlled trial, 39 postmenopausal women (age: 61.6 ± 8.4 years; BMI: 27.4 ± 4.8 kg/m²) were randomized into five groups: control (CON, n=6), PRO (n=7), n-3 PUFA (n=10), PRO+placebo (PRO+PLA, n=7), and PRO+n-3 PUFA (n=9). Daily supplementation included 25 g PRO and/or 4.3 g n-3 PUFA. Primary outcomes were changes in inflammatory markers (CRP, GDF-8, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15), lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids), and body composition (fat mass, android fat, waist-to-hip ratio). Analysis utilized repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: PRO+n-3 PUFA group had significant reductions in total cholesterol (-25.1 ± 43.6 mg/dL, p=0.01) and the largest decrease in triglycerides (-25.5 ± 17.0 mg/dL). GDF-8 levels decreased significantly in both n-3 PUFA (-1.16 ± 1.40 ng/mL, p=0.028) and PRO (-0.95 ± 0.99 ng/mL, p=0.043) groups. IL-15 increased significantly in n-3 PUFA (p=0.045) and PRO+n-3 PUFA (p=0.006) groups. The PRO group demonstrated reductions in total fat mass (-0.75 ± 1.67 kg) and android fat (-2.5 ± 2.2%), while the control group showed increased android fat (+2.8 ± 1.8%, p< 0.05). IL-10 showed an upward trend in the PRO+n-3 PUFA group (p=0.073), while IL-6 remained unchanged across all groups.

Conclusions: Combined protein and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation effectively improves lipid profiles and inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women, while protein supplementation alone benefits body composition. These findings suggest that combined supplementation may be a promising strategy for reducing cardiometabolic risk factors in postmenopausal women. NCT0303041

Funding Sources: Supported by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI)