Dynamics of the human skin mediator lipidome in response to dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation

Nutritional supplementation with fish oil or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA) has potential benefits for skin inflammation. Although the differential metabolism of the main n-3PUFA eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid could lead to distinct activities, there are no clinical studies comparing their relative efficacy in human skin. Following a 10-week oral supplementation of healthy volunteers, and using mass spectrometry-based lipidomics, we found that n-3PUFA mainly affected the epidermal mediator lipidome. EPA was more efficient than DHA in reducing production of arachidonic acid-derived lipids, and both n-3PUFA lowered N-acyl ethanolamines. In UVR-challenged skin (three times the minimum erythemal dose), EPA attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory lipids, while DHA abrogated the migration of Langerhans cells, as assessed by immunohistochemistry. Interestingly, n-3PUFA accelerated the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells but did not alter the erythemal response, either the sunburn threshold or the resolution of erythema, as assessed by spectrophotometric haemoglobin index readings. As EPA and DHA differentially impact cutaneous inflammation through changes in the network of epidermal lipids, dendritic and infiltrating immune cells, they should be considered separately when designing interventions for cutaneous disease.