ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACIDS - THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION AMONG CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT RESPIRATORY-INFECTIONS

The impact of dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids (EFA) on recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) in children was evaluated b y means of a randomized cross-over double-blind study. Linoleic acid ( 596 mg/day) and alpha-linolenic acid (855 mg/day) as a commercial prep aration or placebo (olive oil) were administered for two consecutive w inter seasons (November to February, T-0 - T-120) to 20 children affec ted by RRI, aged between 36 and 49 months. Plasma levels of n-3 and n- 6 metabolites increased after the administration of EFA. The number of infective episodes, days' fever and days' absence from school were re duced significantly during the observation period (extended from T-120 to T-180) in children receiving EFA supplementation. Our results sugg est that n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may play a favourable role in the defence mechanism of these subjects.