EFFECT OF AN ENTERIC-COATED FISH-OIL PREPARATION ON RELAPSES IN CROHN'S
DISEASE
Belluzzi A; Brignola C; Campieri M; Pera A; Boschi S; Miglioli M;
Institute of Clinical Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna,
Italy. N Engl J Med, 1996 Jun, 334:24, 1557-60
BACKGROUND: Patients with Crohn’s disease may have periods of remission,
interrupted by relapses. Because fish oil has antiinflammatory actions,
it could reduce the frequency of relapses, but it is often poorly tolerated
because of its unpleasant taste and gastrointestinal side effects.
METHODS: We performed a one-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study to investigate the effects of a new fish-oil preparation in the maintenance
of remission in 78 patients with Crohn’s disease who had a high risk of
relapse. The patients received either nine fish-oil capsules containing
a total of 2.7 g of n-3 fatty acids or nine placebo capsules daily.
A special coating protected the capsules against gastric acidity for at
least 30 minutes. RESULTS: Among the 39 patients in the fish-oil group,
11 (28 percent) had relapses, 4 dropped out because of diarrhea, and 1
withdrew for other reasons. In contrast, among the 39 patients in the placebo
group, 27 (69 percent) had relapses, 1 dropped out because of diarrhea,
and 1 withdrew for other reasons (difference in relapse rate, 41 percentage
points; 95 percent confidence interval, 21 to 61; P < 0.001). After
one year, 23 patients ( 59% ) in the fish-oil group remained in remission,
as compared with 10 ( 26% ) in the placebo group (P = 0.003). Logistic-regression
analysis indicated that only fish oil and not sex, age, previous surgery,
duration of disease, or smoking status affected the likelihood of relapse
(odds ratio for the placebo group as compared with the fish-oil group,
4.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.6 to 10.7). CONCLUSIONS: In patients
with Crohn’s disease in remission, a novel enteric-coated fish-oil preparation
is effective in reducing the rate of relapse.
=> In other words, use of fish oil doubled the chances to remain
in remission.
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF FISH OIL
Cukier C; Waitzberg DL; Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Faculdade
de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo-FMUSP. Arq Gastroenterol,
1996 Jul, 33:3, 173-8
Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3) found specially on fish oil are represented
by the acid alfa-linolenic, eicosapeniaenoic and docosahexaenoic. After
72 hours of n-3 fatty acids intake there are changes on membrane composition
and decrease of synthesis of prostaglandin (PG), leucotriens (LT) and thromboxanes
(TX) of the 2 and 4 series production and substitution for prostaglandin,
thromboxanes and leucotriens of 3 and 5 series respectively. These alterations
can modulate the inflammatory response in some diseases. N-3 fatty acid
have been used in cardiology on hypercholesterolemy and hypertension control
and on immunologic diseases as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn
disease. Experimentally the n-3 fatty acid inhibit tumor growth and metastasis.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID DEFICIENCY IN RENAL FAILURE: CAN SUPPLEMENTS REALLY
HELP?
Peck LW; Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West
Lafayette, IN 47907-1264, USA. J Am Diet Assoc, 1997 Oct, 97:10 Suppl 2,
S150-3
Abnormal fatty acid metabolism may contribute to clinical problems
such as itching, abnormal perspiration, susceptibility to infection, delayed
wound healing, anemia, and increased hemolysis, as seen in patients
with chronic renal failure. A double-blind study of patients on hemodialysis
who received either fish oil, olive oil, or safflower oil documented that
patients may have increased levels of the proinflammatory prostaglandin
PGE2 and that fish oil intervention may decrease these levels, change the
fatty acid profile, improve hematocrit levels, and improve patient perception
of symptoms of pruritus.
ALTERATION AND RECOVERY OF BLEEDING TIMES, PLATELET AGGREGATION AND
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF INDIVIDUAL PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN PLATELETS OF HUMAN
SUBJECTS RECEIVING A SUPPLEMENT OF COD-LIVER OIL.
Ahmed AA; Holub BJ; Lipids, 1984 Aug, 19:8, 617-24
The effect of supplementation with cod-liver oil containing eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA), 20:5 omega 3, on bleeding times, thrombin-induced platelet
aggregation, platelet protein, platelet cholesterol, and the level and
fatty acid composition of individual phospholipids in the platelets of
human subjects was determined. Measurement of these parameters was conducted
before the subjects received the supplement (day 0), after they received
the supplement for 14 days (day 14), and 14 days after the supplement was
terminated (day 28) so as to monitor recovery. The mean bleeding
times exhibited a marked increase (by 81%) with supplementation and returned
to near basal (day 0) values within 14 days after the supplement was terminated.
Cod-liver oil supplementation significantly reduced thrombin-induced
platelet aggregation with a partial recovery being exhibited by day
28. The content of phospholipid, cholesterol and protein (microgram/10(9)
platelets) was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) when isolated
from the subjects at day 0, 14 and 28. However, the fatty acid compositions
of all platelet phospholipids were altered significantly by the fish oil
supplement. In PC, EPA rose from 0.3 to 2.9% of total fatty acids and docosahexaenoate
from 0.7 to 1.8% concomitant with a drop in arachidonate (from 14.1 to
9.6%) and linoleate (from 10.2 to 7.9%); these levels approached basal
levels 14 days after supplementation was terminated.
EFFECT OF GARLIC AND FISH-OIL SUPPLEMENTATION ON SERUM LIPID
AND LIPOPROTEIN CONCENTRATIONS IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC MEN
Adler AJ; Holub BJ; Am J Clin Nutr: 65:445-450 (1997)
This study examined the effects of garlic and fish-oil supplementation (alone and in combination) on fasting serum lipids and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic subjects. After an initial run-in phase, 50 male subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia were randomly assigned for 12 wk to one of four groups: 1) 900 mg garlic placebo/d + 12 g oil placebo/d; 2) 900 mg garlic/d + 12 g oil placebo/d; 3) 900 mg garlic placebo/d + 12 g fish oil/d, providing 3.6 g n-3 fatty acids/d; and 4) 900 mg garlic/d + 12 g fish oil/d. In the placebo group, mean serum total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triacylglycerols were not significantly changed in relation to baseline. Mean group total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower with garlic + fish oil (- 12.2%) and with garlic (- 11.5 %) after 12 wk but not with fish oil alone. Mean LDL-C concentrations were reduced with garlic + fish oil (-9.5%) and with garlic (-14.2%) but were raised with fish oil (+8.5%). Mean triacylglycerol concentrations were reduced with garlic + fish oil (-34.3%) and fish oil alone ( -37.3%). The garlic groups (with and without fish oil) had significantly lower ratios of total cholesterol to high density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-C to HDL C. In summary, garlic supplementation significantly decreased both total cholesterol and LDL-C whereas fish oil supplementation significantly decreased triacylglycerol concentrations and increased LDL-C concentrations in hypercholesterolemic men. The combination of garlic and fish oil reversed the moderate fish-oil-induced rise in LDL-C. Coadministration of garlic with fish oil was well-tolerated and had a beneficial effect on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations by providing a combined lowering of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triacylglycerol concentrations as well as the ratios of total cholesterol to HDL-C and LDL-C to HDL-C.
=> Fish oil lowers BP by “thining” blood and lowering triacylglycerol, but does not reduce cholesterol( in fact increases LDL cholesterol ). Garlic lowers BP by lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Together they are able to lower BP, cholesterol and triacylglycerol.