Report

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1995) 105, 532–535; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12323389

Dietary Fish Oil Reduces Basal and Ultraviolet B-Generated PGE2 Levels in Skin and Increases the Threshold to Provocation of Polymorphic Light Eruption

Lesley E Rhodes1, Brian H Durham2, William D Fraser2 and Peter S Friedmann1

  1. 1Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
  2. 2Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Received 16 March 1995; Revised 17 June 1995; Accepted 6 July 1995.

Top

Abstract

The sunburn response is markedly reduced by dietary fish oil rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Because prostaglandins mediate the vasodilatation, we examined the effect of fish oil on ultraviolet (UV) B-induced prostaglandin metabolism. In addition we assessed the potential photoprotective effect of fish oil in light-sensitive patients. Thirteen patients with polymorphic light eruption received dietary supplements of fish oil rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for 3 months. At baseline and 3 months, the minimal erythema dose of UVB irradiation was determined, and a graded UVA challenge given to a forearm to assess the threshold dose for papule provocation. Suction blisters were raised on the other forearm, on control skin, and on skin irradiated with four times the minimal erythema dose of UVB 24 h previously, and blister fluid prostaglandin E2 was measured by radioimmunoassay. Following 3 months of fish oil, the mean minimal erythema dose of UVB irradiation increased from 19.8 plusminus 2.6 to 33.8 plusminus 3.7 mJ/cm2 (mean plusminus SEM), p < 0.01. The UVA provocation test was positive in 10 patients at baseline, and after 3 months nine of these showed reduced sensitivity to papule provocation, p < 0.001. Before fish oil, PGE2 increased from 8.6 (SEM 2.1) ng/ml in control skin to 27.2 (11) ng/ml after UVB, p < 0.01. Following 3 months of fish oil, PGE2 decreased to 4.1 (1) and 9.6 (2.4) ng/ml in control and irradiated skin, respectively, p < 0.05. Reduction of UV-induced inflammation by fish oil may be due, at least partially, to lowered prostaglandin E2 levels. The photoprotection against UVA-provocation of a papular response suggests a clinical application for fish oil in polymorphic light eruption.

Keywords:

photoprotection, photosensitivity disorders, photocarcinogenesis, omega-3 PUFAs

Top

References

  1. Kremer, JM, Jubiz, W, Michalek, A, Rynes, RI, Bartholomew, LE, Bigaouette, J, Timchalk, M, Beeler, D, Lininger, L: Fish-oil fatty acid supplementation in active rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Intern Med 106: 497–503, 1987 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  2. Ziboh, VA, Cohen, KA, Ellis, CN, Miller, C, Hamilton, TA, Kragballe, K, Hydrick, CR, Vorhees, JJ: Effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil on neutrophil and epidermal fatty acids. Arch Dermatol 122: 1277–1282, 1986 | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  3. Orengo, I, Black, HS, Kettler, AH, WoIf, JE: Influence of dietary menhaden oil upon carcinogenesis and various cutaneous responses to ultraviolet radiation. Photochem Photobiol 49: 71–77, 1989 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  4. Rhodes, LE, O'Farrell, S, Jackson, MJ, Friedmann, PS: Dietary fish-oil supplementation in humans reduces UVB-erythemal sensitivity but increases epidermal lipid petoxidation. J Invest Dermatol 103: 151–154, 1994 | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  5. Crunkhorn, P, Willis, AL: Cutaneous reactions to intradermal prostaglandins. Br J Pharmac 41: 49–56, 1971 | ChemPort |
  6. Punnonen, K, Puustinen, T, Jansen, CT: Ultraviolet B irradiation induces changes in the distribution and release of arachidonic acid, dihomo-delta-linolenic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid in human keratinocytes in culture. J Invest Dermatol 88: 611–614, 1987 | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  7. Black, AK, Greaves, MW, Hensby, CN, Plummer, NA: Increased prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha in human skin at 6 and 24 H after ultraviolet B irradiation (290–320 nm). Br J Clin Pharmac 5: 431–436, 1978
  8. Gilchrest, BA, Soter, NA, Stoff, JS, Mihm, MC: The human sunburn reaction: histologic and biochemical studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 5: 411–422, 1981 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  9. Black, AK, Greaves, MW, Hensby, CN, Plummer, NA, Warin, AP: The effects of indomethacin on arachidonic acid and prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha levels in human skin 24 H after UVB and UVC irradiation. Br J Clin Pharmac 6: 261–266, 1978
  10. Lands, WEM: Biochemistry and physiology of n-3 fatty acids. FASEB J 6: 2530–2536, 1992 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  11. Henderson, CD, Black, HS, WoIf, JE: Influence of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid sources on prostaglandin levels in mice. Lipids 24: 502–505, 1989
  12. Orengo, IF, Black, HS, Wolf, JE: Influence of fish oil supplementation on the minimal erythema dose in humans. Arch Dermatol Res 284: 219–221, 1992 | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  13. Frain-Bell, W, Dickson, A, Herd, J, Sturrock, I: The action spectrum in polymorphic light eruption. Br J Dermatol 89: 243–249, 1973
  14. Corbett, MF, Hawk, JLM, Herxheimer, A, Magnus, IA: Controlled therapeutic trials in polymorphic light eruption. Br J Dermatol 107: 571–581, 1982
  15. Diffey, BL, Oliver, RJ: An inexpensive luminaire for diagnostic testing to UVB radiation. Photodermatology 2: 260–262, 1985
  16. Kiistala, U: Suction blister device for separation of viable epidermis from dermis. J Invest Dermatol 50: 129–137, 1968 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  17. Saynor, R, Gillott, T: Changes in blood lipids and fibrinogen with a note on safety in a long term study on the effects of n-3 fatty acids in subjects receiving fish oil supplements and followed for seven years. Lipids 27: 533–538, 1992
  18. Lee, TH, Hoover, RL, Williams, JD, Sperling, RI, Ravalese, J, Spur, BW, Robinson, DR, Corey, EJ, Lewis, RA, Austen, KF: Effect of dietary enrichment with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids on in vitro neutrophil and monocyte leukotriene generation and neutrophil function. N Engl J Med 312: 1217–1224, 1985 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  19. Endres, S, Ghorbani, R, Kelley, VE, Georgilis, K, Lonnemann, G, van der Meer, JWM, Cannon, JG, Rogers, TS, Klempner, MS, Weber, PC, Schaefer, EJ, Wolff, SM, Dinarello, CA: The effect of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the synthesis of interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor by mononuclear cells. N Engl J Med 320: 265–271, 1989 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  20. van den Berg, JJM, de Fouw, NJ, Kuypers, FA, Roelofsen, B, Houtsmuller, UMT, Op den Kamp, JAF: Increased n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of red blood cells from fish oil-fed rabbits increases in vitro lipid peroxidation, but decreases haemolysis. Free Rad Biol Med 11: 393–399, 1991
  21. Norris, PG, Barker, JNWN, Allen, MH, Leiferman, KM, MacDonald, DM, Haskard, DO, Hawk, JLM: Adhesion molecule expression in polymorphic light eruption. J Invest Dermatol 99: 504–508, 1992 | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  22. Greaves, MW, McDonald-Gibson, WJ: Anti-inflammatory agents and prostaglandin biosynthesis (letter). Br Med J 3: 527, 1972
  23. Vargaftig, BB, Hai, ND: Selective inhibition by mepacrine of the release of "rabbit aorta contracting substance" evoked by the administration of bradykinin. J Pharmac Pharmacol 24: 159–161, 1972
  24. Mathews-Roth, MM, Pathak, MA, Fitzpatrick, TB, Harber, LC, Kass, EH: Betacarotene therapy for erythropoietic protoporphyria and other photosensitivity disorders. Arch Dermatol 113: 1229–1232, 1973
  25. Epstein, JH: Polymorphous light eruption. J Am Acad Dermatol 3: 329–343, 1980 | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  26. Parrish, JA, Le Vine, MJ, Morison, WL, Gonzalez, E, Fitzpatrick, TB: Comparison of PUVA and beta-carotene in the treatment of polymorphous light eruption. Br J Dermatol 100: 187–191, 1979
  27. Vanderveen, EE, Grekin, RC, Swanson, NA, Kragballe, K: Arachidonic acid metabolites in cutaneous carcinomas. Arch Dermatol 122: 407–412, 1986 | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |

Extra navigation

.
ADVERTISEMENT