DHA Supplementation Eases Post-Meal Inflammation and Supports Blood Vessel Function After a High-Fat Breakfast

This study looked at what happens in the body after eating a high-fat breakfast, and whether taking DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid) or blueberry powder beforehand could soften the typical inflammatory response that follows fatty meals. Sixty-two healthy young adults ate the same high-fat breakfast on three separate occasions, once with a placebo, once with DHA, and once with blueberry powder, in a randomized, crossover design where neither participants nor researchers knew which they were getting.

Blood was drawn before eating and again at 1, 3, and 6 hours afterward to track inflammatory markers, immune cell activity, and blood vessel responsiveness. DHA reduced markers of inflammation, including IL-1β and an enzyme called COX-2, and also lowered the total cholesterol to HDL ratio after the meal. Blueberry powder produced a smaller reduction in one inflammatory marker but did not show the same broad effect as DHA.

When it came to blood vessel function, measured using a test of reactive hyperemia (how well vessels respond to changes in blood flow), both DHA and blueberry powder led to improvements compared to fasting levels. However, only DHA showed a statistically meaningful improvement compared to placebo, with about a 13% increase at the 6-hour mark.