The absorption and effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids on serum leukotriene B4, in patients with cystic fibrosis

The substitution of omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acids for omega‐6 (n‐6) fatty acids generates eicosanoids with diminished inflammatory effects. As the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are in a state of chronic inflammation in which increased amounts of eicosanoids are found, n‐3 supplementation may reduce this level of inflammation and result in clinical improvement. The absorption and clinicals effects of n‐3 vs. n‐6 fatty acids in CF were measured in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, crossover study in which 14 patients with CF (age: 6–16 years, mean 10.5 years; baseline Shwachman‐Brasfield scores: 41–88, mean 76.7) received 6 weeks of n‐3 ethyl ester concentrate from menhaden oil (100–131 mg/kg/day, mean 112.8) or n‐6 fatty acids from safflower oil (102–132 mg/kg/day, mean 113.3), followed by a washout period of 6 weeks, and then 6 weeks of the other supplement. Analysis by gas chromatography showed that n‐3 supplementation resulted in increased eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n‐3) in platelet phospholipids, from 0.14 to 2.16%. P