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Treatment of ulcerative colitis with fish oil supplementation: a prospective 12 month randomised controlled trial.
- Source :
-
Gut [Gut] 1992 Jul; Vol. 33 (7), pp. 922-8. - Publication Year :
- 1992
-
Abstract
- The effect of fish oil on the course of ulcerative colitis was investigated in a randomised blinded controlled study. Eighty seven patients received supplements of 20 ml HiEPA fish oil as triglyceride (4.5 g of eicosapentaenoic acid) or olive oil placebo daily for one year. The oils were given in addition to standard drug therapy and trial entry was stratified for disease activity. Fish oil significantly increased the eicosapentaenoic acid content of rectal mucosa to 3.2% of total fatty acids at six months, compared with 0.63% for patients on olive oil. This was associated with increased synthesis of leukotriene B5, and 53% suppression of leukotriene B4 synthesis by ionophore--stimulated neutrophils. Leukotriene B4 suppression persisted for at least two months after treatment was stopped. Treatment with fish oil resulted in measurable, but only limited clinical benefit. For patients entering the trial in relapse (n = 53), there was a significant reduction in corticosteroid requirement after one and two months treatment. There was a trend towards achieving remission (off corticosteroids) faster in the patients on fish oil, although differences were not significant. For patients in remission at trial entry or during the trial (n = 69), there was no significant difference in the rate of relapse by log rank analysis. We conclude that fish oil supplementation produces a modest corticosteroid sparing effect in active disease, but there is no benefit in maintenance therapy.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aminosalicylic Acids therapeutic use
Drug Therapy, Combination
Eicosapentaenoic Acid analogs & derivatives
Eicosapentaenoic Acid biosynthesis
Female
Humans
Leukotriene B4 biosynthesis
Male
Mesalamine
Middle Aged
Olive Oil
Plant Oils therapeutic use
Prednisolone therapeutic use
Prospective Studies
Remission Induction
Sulfasalazine therapeutic use
Colitis, Ulcerative drug therapy
Eicosapentaenoic Acid therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0017-5749
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Gut
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 1353742
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.33.7.922