title: The effects of an oral supplement enriched with fish oil, prebiotics, and antioxidants on nutrition status in Crohn's disease patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) supports anti-inflammatory benefits of n-3 fatty acids from fish oil, prebiotics, and antioxidants. A nutritionally balanced inflammatory bowel disease nutrition formula (IBDNF) enriched with these compounds has the potential to improve nutrition status and disease activity in CD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an open-label pilot study investigating the effects of IBDNF on nutrition status in CD patients. Twenty-eight patients with active CD on stable medication were asked to consume 16 oz of IBDNF/d for 4 months. Nutrition status was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans and serum micronutrient levels. Disease activity and quality of life were measured using the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients completed the final visit. After 4 months, there was a significant decrease in plasma phospholipid levels of arachidonic acid with increases in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid. Ten patients had a final EPA concentration of >2%. There was improvement in fat-free and fat mass in patients with final EPA >2% (P = .014 and P = .05). Vitamin D (25-OH) levels improved in all patients (18.5-25.9 ng/mL, P < .001). Those with EPA >2% had significantly lower CDAI (116 ± 94.5 vs 261.8 ± 86.5; P = .005) and higher IBDQ (179.1 ± 26.6 vs 114.6 ± 35.9, P < .001) compared to those with EPA <2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IBDNF has the potential to deposit fat-free and fat mass, improve vitamin D status, and improve quality of life in CD patients.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, B-510 TVC, Box 396, Nashville, TN 37232-5283, USA. dawn.m.wiese@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: Bret A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lashner
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: DeMichele
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Seidner
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001825:Body Fluid Compartments / Q000187:drug effects; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D056692:Prebiotics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D010743:Phospholipids; D056692:Prebiotics; D014807:Vitamin D; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid