Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Ambient Air Pollution Exposure in Healthy Adults (PISCES)

This observational study recruits healthy individuals who have been routinely taking high amount (at least 3 g/wk) of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and those who don't, and examines the efficacy of dietary EPA and DHA in ameliorating the cardiopulmonary effects of exposure to ambient air pollution.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Health Effects of Ambient Air Pollution
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: omega-3 fatty acids

Detailed Description

Purpose: To examine the relationship between blood levels of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and cardiopulmonary responses to environmental air pollution in healthy adults. EPA and DHA are two important omega-3 fatty acids that are mainly found in seafoods and fish oils and associated with beneficial effects to human physiology.

Participants: Healthy 35-55 year-old male and female subjects will be screened for their dietary intake of EPA and DHA. Qualified volunteers will be divided into two groups, group 1: individuals voluntarily taking at least 3 g/wk of EPA and DHA from dietary sources including fish oil supplements and ocean fish/shellfish consumption for a period of at least 6 months prior to enrollment in the study; group 2: individuals who have consumed no more than 1 serving size (4-6 oz)/month of ocean fish/shellfish, or no more than 1 pill/month of fish oil supplement during the 6 month period preceding enrollment.

Procedures (Methods): In this observational panel study, subjects will come to the U.S. EPA Human Studies Facility for up to 5 sessions, each consisting of 2 consecutive visit days. The following endpoints will be collected: blood pressure, heart rate variability measurements, blood biomarkers, endothelial cell function, retinal venule and arteriole diameter, and lung function. Air pollution exposure will be assessed using area-specific air quality data derived from local air monitoring stations interfaced with activity monitoring and GPS tracked location for each subject.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 62

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27514
      • EPA Human Studies Facility

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years to 55 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy 35-55 year-old male and female subjects

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 25-55 years old healthy male and female (19≤BMI≤30).
• Normal resting ECG. No history of heart arrhythmia.
• Oxygen saturation greater than 96% at the time of physical exam.
• Taking at least 3 grams of EPA and DHA from dietary sources including fish oil supplements and ocean fish/shellfish for a 6 months or longer period of time preceding enrollment in the study; or taking no more than 1 serving size (4-6 oz)/month of ocean fish/shellfish, or no more than 1 pill/month of fish oil supplement during the previous 6 months or longer period of time.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with a history of acute or chronic cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction.
• Individuals with a history of chronic respiratory disease, such as COPD and asthma.
• Individuals with a history of cancer (possible exception for history of non-melanoma skin cancer).
• Uncontrolled hypertension (≥150 systolic, ≥90 diastolic).
• Individuals who are diabetic (previously diagnosed or with hemoglobin A1c level >6.4%).
• Individuals who are currently smoking (including vaping, or using hookah or e cigarettes) or have a smoking history within 1 year of study (defined as more than 1 pk/yr in the past year) or have a greater than/equal to a 5 pack year smoking history.
• Individuals living with a smoker who smokes inside the house.
• Individuals who are regularly exposed to high levels of vapors, dust, gases, or fumes.
• Individuals who do not understand or speak English.
• Individuals who are taking b-blocker medications.
• Individuals who are taking statins.
• Individuals that are unwilling or unable to maintain their current dietary pattern for the whole study.
• Individuals with bleeding or clotting disorders.
• Individuals who have active allergies.
• Individuals who have an allergy to latex, or skin allergy to tape or electrodes.
• Individuals who are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant.
• Individuals who have unspecified illnesses, which in the judgment of the investigators might increase the risk associated with clinical procedures will be a basis for exclusion.
• Individuals who are currently taking anti-depressants.

Temporary exclusion criteria:

• Individuals who have had recent (within 6 months) abdominal and/or eye surgery, or been diagnosed with any type of hernia, as well as any other contraindications for raised intra-abdominal pressure.
• Individuals who have had an acute respiratory illness within 4 weeks.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
omega-3; individuals voluntarily taking at least 3 g/wk of EPA and DHA from dietary sources including fish oil supplements and ocean fish/shellfish consumption for a period of at least 6 months prior to enrollment in the study	Dietary supplement: omega-3 fatty acids
control; individuals who have consumed no more than 1 serving size (4-6 oz)/month of ocean fish/shellfish, or no more than 1 pill/month of fish oil supplement during the 6 month period preceding enrollment

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
heart rate variability	Sep. 2016 to Sep 2019

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
endothelial cell function	Sep. 2016 to Sep 2019
diameters of retinal arteries and veins	Sep. 2016 to Sep 2019
pulmonary function indices	Sep. 2016 to Sep 2019
blood biomarkers	Sep. 2016 to Sep 2019

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: U.S. EPA Human Studies Facility

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Chen H, Zhang S, Shen W, Salazar C, Schneider A, Wyatt LH, Rappold AG, Diaz-Sanchez D, Devlin RB, Samet JM, Tong H. Omega-3 fatty acids attenuate cardiovascular effects of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution. Part Fibre Toxicol. 2022 Feb 9;19(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s12989-022-00451-4.
• Chen H, Zhang S, Shen W, Salazar C, Schneider A, Wyatt L, Rappold AG, Diaz-Sanchez D, Devlin RB, Samet JM, Tong H. The influence of dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the association between short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide and respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes among healthy adults. Environ Health. 2021 Dec 7;20(1):123. doi: 10.1186/s12940-021-00809-9.
• Tong H, Zhang S, Shen W, Chen H, Salazar C, Schneider A, Rappold AG, Diaz-Sanchez D, Devlin RB, Samet JM. Lung Function and Short-Term Ambient Air Pollution Exposure: Differential Impacts of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2022 Apr;19(4):583-593. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202107-767OC.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 15, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 15, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): November 15, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 28, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 28, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): September 30, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 10, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 8, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Docosahexaenoic Acid; Ambient Air Pollution
• Other Study ID Numbers: HSF-001