title: Beneficial Effects of Omega-3 Supplement to the Enteral Feeding in Children With Mild to Moderate Sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to investigate the benefits of supplementing enteral feeding with omega-3 fatty acids in children with mild to moderate sepsis and its effects on acute-phase reactants and interleukin 6 (IL-6) level.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study from January 2012 to June 2014, which included 2 groups of children with mild to moderate sepsis tolerating enteral feeding. Group A included 60 children supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids, whereas group B included 60 children who received enteral feeding without omega-3 supplementation. Both groups had complete blood pictures, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum albumin, and IL-6 before and after 7 days from supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in hemoglobin percentage ( P < .0001), total white blood cell (WBC) count ( P < .0001), and platelet count ( P < .0001) and significant decrease in CRP ( P < .0001), ESR ( P < .0001), IL-6 ( P < .0001), and albumin level ( P < .001) in the supplemented group than the nonsupplemented group. The supplemented group also had a significantly shorter duration of stay in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU; P < .01) and decreased death rate than the nonsupplemented group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with mild to moderate sepsis showed significant improvement in inflammatory markers and had shorter PICU admission when enteral feeding was supplemented with omega-3 essential fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: 1 Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed Abdul Moety
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Biltagi
authors.affiliation: 1 Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed Abd ElBasset
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abo-Elezz
authors.affiliation: 1 Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maher Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abd-Elhafez
authors.affiliation: 2 Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maaly Mohamed
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mabrouk
authors.affiliation: 2 Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ghada Abudelmomen
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Suliman
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: CRP; ESR; children; enteral feeding; interleukin 6; omega-3; sepsis