THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF N-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACID IN EXPERIMENTAL CROHNS-DISEASE

We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in the rat, which condition is considered an experimental Crohn's dise ase (CD). In rats with TNBS-induced colitis, feeding with an elemental diet(ED) plus 2% n-3 PUEA-rich perilla oil significantly suppressed p lasma leukotriene (LT) B-4 and ulcer index compared to that in rats fe d with ED plus 2% n-6 PUFA-rich safflower oil (34.2 +/- 12.3 s 63.8 +/ - 13.2 pg/ml and 8.8 +/- 12.1 vs 66.4 +/- 33.1, P < 0.01, respectively ). Moreover, the plasma LTB(4) and the ulcer index were significantly correlated (P < 0.05). Feeding with ED plus 2% alpha-linolenic acid (A -LA)-rich vegetable oil significantly reduced plasma LTB(4) and coloni c weight compared to that in rats fed with ED plus 2% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenonic acid (DHA)-rich fish oil in this model (6 1.6 +/- 10.5 vs 85.0 +/- 20.9 pg/ml and 0.83 +/- 0.13 vs 0.96 +/- 0.08 g, P < 0.05, respectively). This study suggested that dietary fat man ipulation with perilla oil can reduce colonic damage and that this is correlated with the suppression of plasma LTB(4). The therapeutic effi cacy of A-LA in controlling intestinal inflammation in experimental CD may be superior to that of EPA and DHA.