ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACID DEFICIENCY AND PREDISPOSITION TO LUNG-DISEASE INCYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency is a predisposing factor for pul monary infection with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , the two major pathogenic microorganisms in cystic fibrosis (CF). Obj ective. The goal of this study was to investigate the essential fatty acid status of CF patients from infancy to 20 years old. Materials and methods. Plasma fatty acid profiles for phospholipid (PL) were determ ined for cord (n = 6), 4 months (n = 40), 16 months (n = 25), 3 y (n = 8), 5-10 y (n = 10). and 10-20 y (n = 10) aged CF patients and compar ed to their respective control; cord (n = 22), 1-36 months: (n = 38) a nd adult (n = 100). Significance was established by Student's t-test ( p < 0.05). Results: The plasma PL fatty acid profile for all CF patien ts, except cord, revealed consistent deficiency in omega 3 and omega 6 EFAs. These deficiencies were most marked at infancy and more pronoun ced for patients with meconium ileus. Conclusions and relevance: EFA d eficiency may contribute to the predisposition of CF infants to develo p respiratory disease and to the excess cytotoxic activity found in br onchoalveolar lavage fluid at 2 months of age in the majority of scree ned infants.