In addition to be aggressive about abx, the Swedes are also into supplementing essential fatty acids.
Arch Bronconeumol. 2009 Dec 30.
Fatty Acid Supplements Improve Respiratory, Inflammatory and Nutritional Parameters in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
Olveira G, Olveira C, Acosta E, Espíldora F, Garrido-Sánchez L, García-Escobar E, Rojo-Martínez G, Gonzalo M, Soriguer F
Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, España; CIBERDEM, CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Chronic inflammation plays a major role in lung deterioration in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and anti-inflammatory strategies have beneficial effects. To study the changes seen after a one-year course of low-dose dietary supplements with a mixture of fatty acids in adult patients with CF in chronic inflammation, pulmonary status (lung function, respiratory exacerbations and antibiotic consumption), quality of life and anthropometric parameters.
PATIENTS AND METHOD: Seventeen adult subjects with CF received 324mg of eicosapentaenoic, 216mg of docosahexaenoic, 480mg of linoleic and 258mg of gammalinolenic acid daily. We assessed inflammation markers, spirometry parameters, number and severity of respiratory exacerbations, antibiotic consumption, quality of life (St George's QoL), anthropometric parameters and serum phospholipid fatty acid composition.
RESULTS: At the end of the treatment period TNF alpha levels fell significantly and its soluble receptors (60 and 80) rose significantly. Levels of IgG and IgM anti-oxidized LDL antibodies fell significantly. Spirometry improved significantly. Annual respiratory exacerbations and days of antibiotic treatment fell significantly. The improvement in QoL was not significant. Serum levels of docosahexaenoic, total omega-3 and linoleic acid rose significantly and more favourable profiles were seen in monoenoic acids, arachidonic acid and the arachidonic/docosahexaenoic ratio. The fat-free mass and hand grip dynamometry improved significantly.
CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose supplements of n-3 and gammalinolenic fatty acids over a long period (one year) appears to improve pulmonary status (lung function, respiratory exacerbations and antibiotic consumption), inflammatory and anthropometric parameters in adults with CF.
This is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIs there a way of finding out if they supplemented the individual fatty acids or if they were all combined in one supplement?
You could email the clinic in Spain
ReplyDeleteI found this interesting because I thought some of the fatty acids were actually supposed to have been shown in the past to increase inflammation in people with CF which is why only DHA was being looked at as a possible treatment. Do you know of other studies on the fatty acids with people with CF?
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for posting this and all the other articles you do. :)
Lori
Lori, I don't know of other studies. I don't see how fatty acids could increase inflammation in CFer's.
ReplyDeleteBetween this study and the Swedes supplementing heavily with Fatty Acids, I think it's a pretty safe bet.