What are SPMs? Meet the specialized pro-resolving mediators
Whether you are an athlete, a professional, an office worker or enjoying retirement, you want to perform well in a fast-moving world. Here is a powerful ally for that — SPMs, specialized pro-resolving mediators, which support your health overall. Let us look at how SPMs do their work.
What are SPMs, and how do they differ from ordinary anti-inflammatories?
SPM specialized pro-resolving mediators contain the omega-3 and other fatty acids the body needs, extracted from small fish such as anchovy, sardine and mackerel caught in clean, unpolluted waters. These fatty acids play an important role in regulating the inflammatory response and restoring balance to tissue. Although omega-3 fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, SPM specialized pro-resolving mediators go a step further: they not only promote the easing of inflammation but help prevent acute inflammation from becoming chronic, keeping the body stable and avoiding a repeat flare.
How do SPMs relate to tissue repair?
One of the main benefits of SPM specialized pro-resolving mediators is that they enhance the body's capacity to repair and recover. Whether you are an elite athlete pushing the limit or recovering from a hard training session, SPMs help reduce inflammation and allow tissue to repair faster. By easing that process, SPMs can reduce swelling, pain and recovery time, leaving you stronger and performing at your best. Research shows that over 4 weeks the acute inflammatory marker hs-CRP fell by 43% and perceived pain by 46% [1]. For athletes, that is very good news.
What does the research say about SPMs and joint health?
For older adults, athletes, fitness enthusiasts and anyone living actively, joint health matters a great deal. Joint damage from overuse, injury or age can cause discomfort and limitation. In research on joint health, SPMs have been observed to relate to the resolution of the inflammatory response, and studies have also documented changes in joint inflammatory markers [2-3].
What role do SPMs play in immune regulation?
A well-functioning immune system is essential to overall health and performance. Research has observed SPMs to relate to the regulation of the immune response. By promoting the resolution of inflammation, SPMs are associated with the regulation of immune cell activity, while long-term chronic inflammation is known to relate to a range of health problems. Keeping the immune system in balance is one way to reduce the long-term inflammatory load [4].
Why do modern diets fall short on SPMs?
1. An unbalanced diet
A diet lacking foods rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may be one of the main reasons for insufficient SPMs. Deep-sea fish, flaxseed and walnuts are rich in these fatty acids, and going without them limits the raw material the body needs to synthesize SPMs.
2. Chronic inflammation
In a body held in a chronically inflamed state, the excess inflammatory mediators produced may suppress SPM production and interfere with the resolution process. Chronic inflammation is common in obesity, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
3. Poor nutritional status
A shortfall in essential nutrients can also affect the synthesis and release of SPMs. Vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc all play important roles in SPM biosynthesis, so poor nutrition can limit SPM production.
4. Chronic disease
Certain chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disease may interfere with the production and function of SPMs. These conditions often come with inflammation and immune imbalance, affecting the body's natural capacity to repair.
5. External factors
Pollutants, toxins and medications in the environment may also interfere with the production and metabolism of SPMs. Exposure to these external factors disrupts the body's resolution process and leads to insufficient SPMs.
SPM specialized pro-resolving mediators are a class of signaling molecules that have drawn attention in recent inflammation research. Through promoting the easing of inflammation, their relationship with the repair process, joint inflammatory markers and immune regulation is an active direction of study. It is worth stressing that SPMs are not a universal solution but one part of a healthy lifestyle. Keep up regular exercise, a balanced diet and enough rest, and make life more interesting and more energetic. Unlock your full potential and embrace the power of SPMs.
A gentle reminder:
Choosing the right SPM
When considering SPMs, choosing a high-quality product from a reputable brand is essential. Look for concentrated, purified SPM specialized pro-resolving mediators to be sure you are getting the most effective and readily absorbed form. Before starting any new supplement program, and particularly if you have an underlying health condition or take medication, we suggest seeking advice from a healthcare professional.
References:
[1] SPM supplementation reduces pain scores and proinflammatory markers in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions: a multicenter observational study, Metagenics. Data on File, 2016.
[2] Effects of a Natural Product Containing Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators in Subjects with OA, RA, or Other Chronic Inflammatory Conditions in a Multi-Clinic Case Series Annalouize O'Connor1, Sara Le Brun-Blashka2, Kirti Salunkhe2, Jyh-Lurn Chang2 and John Troup2, 1R&D, Metagenics, Inc., Gig Harbor, WA, 2Metagenics, Inc., Gig Harbor, WA
[3] Early evidence of efficacy for orally administered SPM-enriched marine lipid fraction on quality of life and pain in a sample of adults with chronic pain Nini Callan, Doug Hanes & Ryan Bradley Journal of Translational Medicine volume 18, Article number: 401 (2020)
[4] Enriched Marine Oil Supplements Increase Peripheral Blood Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators Concentrations and Reprogram Host Immune Responses: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study Patricia R Souza 1, Raquel M Marques 1, Esteban A Gomez 1, Romain A Colas 1, Roberta De Matteis 1, Anne Zak 2, Mital Patel 2, David J Collier 2 3, Jesmond Dalli 1 4 Originally published12 Dec 2019
The defining feature of chronic inflammation is that there are no obvious symptoms while it drains you in the background — many people only discover a persistently raised inflammatory marker through testing. Confirming where you stand usually means reading inflammatory markers alongside fatty acid balance.
See which systems the 136 markers cover →Frequently asked questions
What are SPMs?
SPM stands for specialized pro-resolving mediators. They are a group of signaling molecules converted in the body from the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and they relate to the closing phase of the inflammatory response.
How do SPMs differ from ordinary anti-inflammatories?
Most ordinary anti-inflammatory mechanisms work by suppressing inflammatory signals. SPMs are studied from a different angle: taking part in the resolution of inflammation — allowing a response that has already started to close out properly. The two occupy different positions mechanistically.
Which foods contain SPMs?
SPMs are converted from omega-3 in the body, so oily fish rich in EPA and DHA are the main source — salmon, mackerel, sardines. Plant sources such as flaxseed and walnuts supply ALA, which has to be converted in the body at an efficiency that varies from person to person.
Why do people today fall short on SPMs?
Mainly because of an imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in the diet. More processed food and vegetable oil alongside less oily fish leaves relatively little raw material for converting into SPMs. Age and prolonged stress also relate to conversion efficiency.
What can I look at to understand my inflammatory status?
Common directions include inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), and the fatty acid ratio in red blood cell membranes — the latter directly reflects your actual omega-3 to omega-6 balance.
Want to know how far your inflammation has gone?
A raised inflammatory marker usually comes with no sensation at all, yet it affects repair, metabolism and energy.
Body Decode, 136 markers, covers 17 health categories including immunity and inflammation, nutrients and metabolic, with a 60-minute consultant report review and a 120-day action plan.
