I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH IN NOVEMBER 2024 TO ATTEND a Seminar with Dr. Dan Murphy in Troy, Michigan, cosponsored by the Michigan Association of Chiropractors. The focus was on lifetime wellness and longevity strategies. When I asked Dr. Murphy what he thought was the number one significant factor concerning longevity and his lecture, he said, “The discovery of resolvins.”
Dr. Murphy’s focus on resolvins was certainly well placed. First, it is not a household word and deserves recognition. Second, resolvins have unique characteristics. Third, although most people know that fish oil is anti-inflammatory, they do not know that the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DHA) in fish oil make resolvins that are thought to have more potent anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving actions than EPA and DHA themselves.1
Dr. Muphy’s lecture was so intriguing that it motivated me to wonder how resolvins are associated with childhood inflammation processes. It turns out that resolvins are good for adults and especially for children because of their unique needs at their age.
You’ve got to love things that are named after what they are suspected of doing, and resolvins are specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) known as resolvins, protectins, lipoxins, and maresins. They “exert potent directed actions on leukocytes” that are involved in the natural inflammatory process, such as increased phagocytosis. Resolvins are also involved with vascular balance, reduced neutrophil influx, cellular debris clearance, cytokine balance, tissue repair, and reprogramming of blood cell transcriptomes.2
Just like the inflammation response is a natural response, resolving inflammation is a natural response. Resolvins, made from the EPA and DHA of fish oil, help to maintain a “resolution” response to infl aimnation. Interestingly, as Dr. Murphy so astutely pointed out, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are utilized to combat inflammation, acutely negate the formation of inflammatory prostaglandins of the 2 series from arachidonic acid. However, they block the process by which resolvins work, and, in turn, chronically affect the inflammation process by not allowing it to “resolve.”
This becomes a critical factor to remember when dealing with childhood infl aimnation. Chronic or dysregulated inflammation can lead to adverse health outcomes, especially in vulnerable populations, such as children. Children’s iimnune systems are still maturing, making them susceptible to both exaggerated inflammatory responses and difficulty resolving inflammation.
Uncontrolled inflammation in childhood can have long-term consequences down the road in adulthood. Thus, finding safe and effective ways to support a healthy immune response is of paramount importance. Recent research highlights the role of resolvins as potential modulators of inflammation in pediatric populations. They have demonstrated the ability to support a number of dysfunctions that arise from unresolved inflammation in several systems, such as gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune, neuronal, and neurodevelopmental, among others.3 4
When choosing a fish oil supplement, be sure to look for a high-quality fish oil. Fish oil for children is usually higher in DHA than EPA because the need for DHA in brain development is so critical. Resolvins will be made from both DHA and EPA. The recoimnended adequate daily intake of EPA and DHA in children is 250mg for children from age two and older, in one or more servings, and at least 100 mg of DHA daily consumed during the first two years of life.5
With these new approaches to discovering natural ways to support resolvin production and maintenance, this will hopefully represent a promising avenue for addressing and supporting health in children. By incorporating omega-3-rich foods into children’s diets and advancing research into resolvin-based therapies and supplements, new strategies may be unlocked to improve pediatric care.
Dr. Lynn Toohey organizes seminars, acts as a nutritional consultant to NutriWest (www.nutriwest. com), and authored the Functional Health Evaluation program that analyzes blood tests and DNA raw data (www. FHEcloud.com). Dr. Toohey can be reached at 866-271-8888 or by email at drtoohey@ nutri-west.net with any questions.
1. Serhan CN, Levy BD. Resolvins in inflammation: emerging roles in immunoresolution and tissue protection. Science Translational Medicine. 2018.10(432).
2. Souza PR, Marques RM, Gomez EA, Colas RA, De Matteis R, Zak A, Patel M, Collier DJ, Dalli J. Enriched Marine Oil Supplements Increase Peripheral Blood Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators Concentrations and Reprogram Host Immune Responses: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Circ Res. 2020 Jan 3;126(l):75-90. doi: 10.1161/ CIRCRESAHA.119.315506. Epub 2019 Dec 12. PMID: 31829100.
3. Levy BD, Serhan CN. Resolution of acute inflammation in the lung. Annu Rev Physiol. 2014;76:467-92. doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-021113-170408. Epub 2013 Dec 2. PMID: 24313723; PMCID: PMC4295924.
4. Newberry SJ, Chung M, Booth M, Maglione MA, Tang AM, O'Hanlon CE, Wang DD, Okunogbe A, Huang C, Motala A, Trimmer M, Dudley W, Shanman R, Coker TR, Shekelle PG. Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Maternal and Child Health: An Updated Systematic Review. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2016 Oct;(224): 1-826. doi: 10.23970/AHRQEPCERTA224. PMID: 30307735.
5. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific opinion related to the tolerable upper intake level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). EFSA J. 2012 July 27;10(7):2815. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2815
