Reduced asthma symptoms with n-3 fatty acid ingestion are related to 5-series leukotriene production

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 65; no. 4; pp. 1011 - 1017
• Main Authors: Broughton, KS, Johnson, CS, Pace, BK, Liebman, M, Kleppinger, KM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.04.1997; American Society for Clinical Nutrition; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: ACEITES DE PESCADO; ACIDE GRAS POLYINSATURE; ACIDOS GRASOS POLIINSATURADOS; administration & dosage; Adult; ADULTE; ADULTOS; ADULTS; ASMA; ASTHMA; Asthma - diet therapy; Asthma - metabolism; Asthma - physiopathology; ASTHME; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - urine; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; COMPLEMENT ALIMENTAIRE; Diet; diet therapy; dietary supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; drug effects; DRUG THERAPY; EFFICACY; EICOSANOIDE; EICOSANOIDES; EICOSANOIDS; EXCRECION; EXCRETION; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; FISH OILS; FORCED EXPIRATORY FLOW; Forced Expiratory Volume; Forced Expiratory Volume - drug effects; Forced Expiratory Volume - physiology; FORCED VITAL CAPACITY; FORECASTING; HUILE DE POISSON; Humans; leukotrienes; Leukotrienes - metabolism; Leukotrienes - urine; LUNG FUNCTION; Medical sciences; metabolism; METHACHOLINE; Methacholine Chloride; Methacholine Chloride - pharmacology; OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS; OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS; ORINA; PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW; pharmacology; physiology; physiopathology; Pneumology; POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS; prediction; Predictive Value of Tests; RATIOS; RESPIRATION; Respiration - drug effects; Respiration - physiology; Respiratory system; RESPONSES; SINTOMAS; SUPLEMENTOS; SUPPLEMENTS; SYMPTOME; SYMPTOMS; TECHNIQUE DE PREVISION; TECNICAS DE PREDICCION; TERAPEUTICA MEDICAMENTOSA; therapeutic use; THERAPEUTIQUE MEDICAMENTEUSE; Time Factors; URINE; Vital Capacity; Vital Capacity - drug effects; Vital Capacity - physiology; VOLUME; VOLUMEN; WYOMING; YOUNG ADULTS; Wyoming; Human; Respiratory disease; Arachidonic acid derivatives; Methacholine chloride; Maximum expiratory flow rate; Lipids; n-3 fatty acid; Fish oil; Feeding; Asthma; Leukotriene; n-6 fatty acid; Diet therapy; Diet; Eicosanoid; Unsaturated fatty acid; Obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/65.4.1011

Asthma may respond to dietary modification, thereby reducing the need for pharmacologic agents. This study determined the effectiveness of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ingestion in ameliorating methacholine-induced respiratory distress in an asthmatic population. The ability of urinary leukotriene excretion to predict efficacy of n-3 PUFA ingestion was assessed. After n-3 PUFAs in ratios to n-6 PUFAs of 0.1:1 and 0.5:1 were ingested sequentially for 1 mo each; patient respiratory indexes were assessed after each treatment. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume for 1 s (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF 25–75) were measured along with weekly 24-h urinary leukotriene concentrations. With low n-3 PUFA ingestion, methacholine-induced respiratory distress increased. With high n-3 PUFA ingestion, alterations in urinary 5-series leukotriene excretion predicted treatment efficacy. Elevated n-3 PUFA ingestion resulted in a positive methacholine bronchoprovocation dose change in > 40% of the test subjects (responders). The provocative dose to cause a 20% reduction (PD20) in FEV1, FVC, PEF, and FEF25-75 values could not be calculated because of a lack of significant respiratory reduction. Conversely, elevated n-3 PUFA ingestion caused some of the patients (nonresponders) to further lose respiratory capacity. Five-series leukotriene excretion with high n-3 PUFA ingestion was significantly greater for responders than for nonresponders. A urinary ratio of 4-series to 5-series leukotrienes < 1, induced by n-3 PUFA ingestion, may predict respiratory benefit.