The Pharmacokinetic Profile of a New Gastroresistant Capsule Preparation of Eicosapentaenoic Acid as the Free Fatty Acid.
Supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) may be beneficial for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In this study we analyzed the pharmacokinetic profile of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as the free fatty acid (FFA), in an enteric-coated preparation, in 10 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 10 Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 15 healthy volunteers (HV). Subjects received 2 g daily of EPA-FFA for 8 weeks. Plasma phospholipid and red blood cell (RBC) membrane fatty acid content were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. There was a rapid incorporation of EPA into plasma phospholipids by 2 weeks and a slower, but highly consistent, incorporation into RBC membranes (4% total fatty acid content; coefficient of variation 10-16%). There was a concomitant reduction in relative n-6 PUFA content. Elongation and desaturation of EPA into docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) via docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) were apparent and DHA content also increased in membranes. EPA-FFA is well tolerated and no difference in the pharmacokinetic profile of n-3 PUFA incorporation was detected between IBD patients and HV. Our data support the concept that EPA can be considered the "universal donor" with respect to key n-3 PUFAs and that this enteric-coated formulation allows long term treatment with a high level of compliance.
Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Eleonora
E
Scaioli
Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Carla
C
Cardamone
Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Elisa
E
Liverani
Center for Applied Biomedical Research (C.R.B.A.), Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Munarini
Section of Molecular Gastroenterology, Leeds Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK.
Mark A
MA
Hull
Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Andrea
A
Belluzzi
D000328:Adult; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid