Omega-3 fatty acid for the treatment and remission of Crohn’s disease

: This integrative literature review focused on the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD). A systematic review of studies investigating the use of omega-3 in individuals with CD was performed. OVID MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database, and CINAHL were searched for pertinent research. Experiments were limited to double-blind placebo controlled trials. Five studies observing CD relapse rates and three studies examining biochemical changes were evaluated. The studies reviewed show contradicting information regarding the efficacy of omega-3 for CD. While some studies have shown supplementation with omega-3 results in sustained remission from disease, other studies concluded no correlation between omega-3 supplementation and improved remission rates. Studies investigating biochemical variables suggest favorable changes in immunological milieu, including modifications of lipid profiles and cytokine production. The studies reviewed are adversely limited by low number of participants, short duration of study and other significant deficits. Limited data remain available and current literature indicated mixed conclusions regarding the efficacy of omega-3 for treatment of CD. Further large-scale studies of longer duration are necessary.