Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28275869›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of nutrition2018

Effect of dietary alpha-linolenic acid on blood inflammatory markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Hang Su, Ruijie Liu, Ming Chang, Jianhua Huang, Qingzhe Jin, Xingguo Wang

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of nutrition, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
33citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

33 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 59 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  10. Article
  11. The Impact of Flaxseed (Nutrients · 2025
    Review
  12. Review
  13. Impact of Dietary Fiber on Inflammation in Humans.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Fatty acid profile and effect of Plukenetia volubilis L. (sacha inchi) oil on lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet.Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologica · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Hang SuState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
Ruijie LiuState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
Ming ChangState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
Jianhua HuangState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
Qingzhe JinState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
Xingguo WangState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China. wangxg1002@gmail.com.
Jiangnan University · CNState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology · CN

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2015M571666National Natural Science Foundation of China 31401525
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aim of the current meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of increasing dietary ALA intake on the blood concentration of inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in adults.

methodsAfter a systemic search on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library and bibliographies of relevant articles, 25 randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria were identified.

resultsNo significant effect of dietary ALA supplementation was observed on TNF (SMD: -0.03, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.29), IL-6 (SMD: -0.17, 95% CI -0.46 to 0.12), CRP (SMD: -0.06, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.12), sICAM-1 (SMD: -0.06, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.13), and sVCAM-1 (SMD: -0.24, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.09). Subgroup analysis revealed that increasing dietary ALA tends to elevate CRP concentration in healthy subjects. However, the null effect of ALA supplementation on other inflammatory markers was not changed in various subgroups, indicating that the results are stable. Meta-regression results revealed a negative relationship between the effect size on CRP and its baseline concentration. No significant publication bias was observed for all inflammatory markers as suggested by funnel plot and Begg's test.

conclusionOur meta-analysis did not find any beneficial effect of ALA supplementation on reducing inflammatory markers including TNF, IL-6, CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1. However, in healthy subjects, ALA supplementation might increase CRP concentration.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsEvidence-Based Medicinealpha-Linolenic AcidAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalBiomarkersChronic DiseaseC-Reactive ProteinHumansInflammation MediatorsIntercellular Adhesion Molecule-1Interleukin-6Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicSolubilityTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaVascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1alpha-Linolenic AcidAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinICAM1 protein, humanIL6 protein, humanInflammation MediatorsIntercellular Adhesion Molecule-1Interleukin-6TNF protein, humanTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaVascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1Alpha-linolenic acidInflammatory markersMeta-analysisRandomized controlled trials

Identifiers

PMID28275869
OpenAlexW2592523469

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.