title: Hypothesis: vitamin E complements polyunsaturated fatty acids in essential fatty acid deficiency in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: While several studies have demonstrated essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in plasma and tissue lipids of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, the reasons for this deficiency are not well established. It is believed that reduced EFA intake, malabsorption of fat, altered desaturase/lipase activity and defective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) altering utilisation of EFA in epithelial cells contribute to the development of EFA deficiency in CF. It is likely that increased metabolism of arachidonic acid to eicosanoids such as leukotrienes, thromboxane and prostaglandins may also be a contributing factor. Evidence is presented that elevated oxidative damage to EFA and impaired antioxidant defences, in particular vitamin E, may contribute to the development of EFA deficiency in CF. Furthermore, antioxidant supplementation in CF may improve EFA status.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Dominic A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Manohar L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000378:metabolism; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; C505032:CFTR protein, human; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D014810:Vitamin E; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase