5. Conclusions
inflammation, overweight
INFLAMMATION
In conclusion, this proof-of-concept trial is one of the first of its kind. However, it failed to confirm the underlying hypothesis of a decrease in hs-CRP levels after eight weeks of supplementation with n-3 PUFAs, probiotics, and vitamin D in subjects with overweight and obesity. Our result may indicate that hs-CRP measurements might not be the most suitable inflammatory marker to use in this manner, as they showed substantial intraindividual variation. Potential indications of a slight anti-inflammatory effect were provided by a subtle reduction in IL-6 levels as well as improvements in the n-6/n-3 ratio and AA/EPA ratio within the treatment group. In addition, the treatment group participants showed mobility improvements, which may be a particularly valuable effect in this population. The results suggest that the dual administration of probiotics, omega-3 FAs, and vitamin D may have some modest effects on inflammation. However, on the basis of the overall lack of significant results in this study, we would recommend higher doses and longer intervention times in future studies. We are still inclined to regard these supplements as a potentially promising non-pharmacological treatment for low-grade inflammation in overweight people, but the results from this study are inconclusive and further studies are needed.