Effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on inflammatory markers in COPD.
BACKGROUND
COPD, the fifth-leading cause of death worldwide, is characterized by chronic inflammation. However, no available agent can effectively cure this inflammation. A dietary supplement containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we hypothesized that nutritional support with omega-3 PUFA-rich diets may be useful for treating COPD, and we compared the clinical features and inflammatory mediator levels between the COPD patients who received an omega-3 PUFA-rich supplement and those who received a nonrich supplement.


METHODS
Sixty-four COPD patients received 400 kilocalories per day of an omega-3 PUFA-rich supplement (n-3 group) or an omega-3 PUFA-nonrich supplement (n-6 group) for 2 years. We prospectively investigated the clinical features of these patients and measured the levels of inflammatory mediators.


RESULTS
In 6-min walk testing, the dyspnea Borg scale and decrease of arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry significantly improved in the n-3 group. Leukotriene B4 levels in serum and sputum and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8 levels in sputum decreased significantly in the n-3 group, while there was no significant change in the n-6 group. Two patients in the n-3 group and three patients in the n-6 group had mild diarrhea, and three patients in the n-3 group and three patients in the n-6 group had nausea; however, their symptoms were controllable and they improved with treatment. With multiple regression analysis, it was proved that the omega-3 PUFA-rich diet significantly contributed to the change in cytokine levels in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest nutritional support with an omega-3 PUFA-rich diet as a safe and practical method for treating COPD.
Matsuyama
Wataru
W
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory and Stress Care Center, Kagoshima University Hospital, Sakuragaoka 8-35-1, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan. vega@xa2.so-net.ne.jp
Mitsuyama
Hideo
H
Watanabe
Masaki
M
Oonakahara
Ken-ichi
K
Higashimoto
Ikkou
I
Osame
Mitsuhiro
M
Arimura
Kimiyoshi
K
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012016:Reference Values; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D018836:Inflammation Mediators