Essential fatty acid supplementation in chronic hepatitis B.
BACKGROUND
Dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids and polyunsaturated lecithin may improve biochemical and histological parameters in liver disease.


METHODS
Ten patients with serological and histological evidence of chronic hepatitis B received capsules of the polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich evening primrose oil in a dose of 4 g daily for 12 months, while a matched group received liquid paraffin capsules as a placebo.


RESULTS
Compared to the placebo group, the patients receiving evening primrose oil showed no improvement in either biochemical or histological indices of liver damage, or in the rate of loss of circulating e antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary, supplementation with this dose of essential fatty acids is unlikely to be of benefit in chronic hepatitis B.
Jenkins
A P
AP
Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
Green
A T
AT
Thompson
R P
RP
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010938:Plant Oils; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid