title: The effect of gamma-linolenic acid on clinical status, red cell fatty acid composition and membrane microviscosity in infants with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: A double blind placebo-controlled study of two doses of gamma-linolenic acid, provided by evening primrose oil (EPO, Epogam, Searle, U.K.), in children with atopic dermatitis was performed: 1) to examine the effect of gamma-linolenic acid administration on the clinical status of children with atopic dermatitis and abnormalities of IgE-mediated immune responses compared to those without such IgE abnormalities; 2) to investigate the effect of gamma-linolenic acid on red cell fatty acid composition and 3) to assess whether treatment with gamma-linolenic acid induced changes in red cell membrane microviscosity. A significant improvement in the overall severity of the clinical condition was seen in children treated with gamma-linolenic acid, independent of whether the children had manifestations of IgE-mediated allergy. Furthermore, gamma-linolenic acid treatment increased the percentage content of n-6 fatty acids in erythrocyte cell membrane; this increase was more marked in the membranes of children treated with high doses of EPO. In the high dose group a significant increase in dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) occurred. This may be of particular relevance because of the potential importance of DGLA as a precursor of antiinflammatory prostanoids. Red cell membrane microviscosity did not change in any group after treatment with EPO, even in high doses, despite a significant increase in the proportion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry G. Moruzzi, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bordoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hrelia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celadon
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cannella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patrizi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014783:Viscosity; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid