[The effect of docosahexaenoic acid on the loss of appetite in pediatric patients with pneumonia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) administered during the acute phase of pneumonia in infants, on appetite, cytokines and leptin concentrations.


METHODS
Seventeen children between three months and 12 years of age were followed from hospitalization to discharge. Children were randomly assigned to receive DHA or placebo. The effect of treatment was evaluated on energy intake, cytokines, and leptin concentrations.


RESULTS
Cytokine concentrations tended to decrease earlier in DHA children. By day 4, concentrations of IL-1beta and TNFalpha had decreased by 12%, while such concentrations increased by 12% and 250% in placebo children. Energy intake recovered in DHA children at discharge, but placebo children were still consuming only 60% of their requirements.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that DHA administered in the acute phase of infection could modulate IL-1 and TNF production, and secondarily, decrease the effect of infection on appetite.
López-Alarcón
Mardya
M
Unidad de Investigación Médica en Nutrición, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Insituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. marsau2@prodigy.net.mx
Furuya-Meguro
María Magdalena
MM
García-Zúñiga
Pedro Alberto
PA
Tadeo-Pulido
Irsa
I
D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids