THE USE OF AN INTRAVENOUS FISH-OIL EMULSION ENRICHED WITH OMEGA-3-FATTY-ACIDS IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

The effects of parenteral nutrition supplemented with a lipid emulsion enriched with the omega-3 fatty acids (FA), eicosapentaenoate (20:5n- 3) and docosahexaenoate (22:6n-3), derived from fish oil were compared to a standard Lipid emulsion containing omega-6 EA in patients with c ystic fibrosis (CF). Patients were randomized to receive either Omegav enous 10%, which contains fish oil (IFO), or Liposyn III 10% (control) daily for 1 mo at a dose of 150 mg/kg. There were no observed allergi c or toxic reactions, no abnormalities in liver function tests or coag ulation parameters. To assess the bioavailability of the lipid adminis tered, measurement of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels were made of the essential FA. There were no adverse changes in plasma levels of t he omega-6 FA (18:2n-6, 18:3n-6, 20:3n-G, and 20:3n-6), and plasma lev els of the omega-3 FA (20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3) increased significantly du ring the I-mo study. There were no significant changes in plasma FFA p ro files of the essential FA for the patients receiving the control li pid. The effect of treatment on pulmonary unction was also investigate d. There were no significant changes in FVC, FEV(1), PEFR, FEV(1)/FVC, or FEF(25-75) (absolute value or percentage) over the 4 weeks of stud y in the group receiving IFO or control. This preliminary investigatio n suggests that intravenous administration of fish oils enriched with long chain omega-3 FA to patients with CF is safe and bioavailable.