Enhanced plasma values of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Aim: Several studies demonstrated that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, and dietary interventions with fish oils have been suggested. However, the available data on the LCPUFA status in patients with IBD are controversial.

Patients and methods: Thirty patients with UC, 21 with CD and 24 controls (C) were investigated (age UC:40.8±12.1; CD:37.6±11.0; C:31.5±8.4 mean±SD). Fatty acid composition of plasma lipids was determined by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Results: In plasma phospholipids, significantly higher values of eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic (C22:5n-3) and gamma-linolenic (C18:3n-6) acids were found in patients with either UC or CD as compared to C. When compared to C, values of the principal n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA, arachidonic (C20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6n-3) acids were significantly higher in patient with UC but not in CD. Moreover, C18:3n-6 values were significantly higher in patients with CD than in UC. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid levels in healthy controls and in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (data show results of Control (n=21); Ulc. colitis (n=30); Crohn disease (n=24), respectively): C18:2n-6 (19.91 (5.67); 21.57 (7.49); 19.71 (4.44)), C18:3n-6 (0.02 (0.02)aB; 0.03 (0.02) ac; 0.05 (0.03) Bc), C20: 3n-6 (2.06 (0.79); 2.11 (0.93); 2.01 (1.00)), C20: 4n-6 (6.92 (2.96) a; 8.43 (3.23) a; 8.02 (3.85)), C18: 3n-3 (0.05 (0.04); 0.06 (0.03); 0.07 (0.04)), C20: 5n-3 (0.09 (0.05) ab; 0.14 (0.10) a; 0.16 (0.10)d), C22: 5n-3 (0.14 (0.10) AB; 0.27 (0.16) A; 0.31 (0.10) B), C22: 6n-3 (0.73 (0.39) a; 1.22 (0.56) a; 0.92 (0.82)). Data are median (IQR), a, b, c=P<0.05; AB=P<0.001.

Conclusions: 1. There are considerably differences between the LCPUFA status of patients with UC and CD. 2. The data obtained in the present study do not support the concept that patients with either UC or CD may benefit from an enhanced dietary supply of fish oils rich in C20:5n-3 and C22:6n-3.