Biological effects of a dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation in cystic fibrosis patients: A randomized, crossover placebo-controlled trial

Background & aims Various anti-inflammatory therapies, including dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) supplementation, have been investigated in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. To further explore this nutritional approach, biological effects of an omega-3 PUFA oral liquid supplementation were measured in 17 CF patients in a double-blind, randomized, crossover without a washout period and placebo-controlled study. Methods CF patients (age: 18±9 year; weight: 43±13 kg) received a liquid dietary supplementation either enriched or not in omega-3 PUFA (390–1170 mg/day according to patient weight) during two 6-month periods. Results Increase in eicosapentaenoic acid was observed in neutrophil membrane following omega-3 PUFA dietary supplementation (from 0.7±0.6 to 1.6±0.6 μmol%, P<0.01). The leukotriene B4 (LTB4)/leukotriene B5 (LTB5) ratio was decreased (from 72±27 to 24±7, P<0.001) in CF patients taking omega-3 PUFA supplements. In contrast, omega-3 PUFA supplementation affected neither internalization of IL-8 receptors following IL-8 exposure, nor IL-8-induced neutrophil chemotaxis. Conclusion Our results show that omega-3 PUFA are incorporated in neutrophil membranes. The subsequent decrease in LTB4/LTB5 ratio suggests that, in such conditions, neutrophils may produce less pro-inflammatory mediators from the acid arachidonic pathway. These data indicate that omega-3 PUFA intake may have anti-inflammatory effect that still need to be assessed by long-term studies following large groups of patients.