THE EFFECT OF PARENTERAL FISH-OIL ON LEUKOCYTE MEMBRANE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION AND LEUKOTRIENE-SYNTHESIZING CAPACITY IN PATIENTS WITH POSTOPERATIVE TRAUMA

The incorporation of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (FAs) into leukoc yte membranes and the leukotriene (LT)B-4-, LTB(5)-, LTC(4)-, and LTC( 5)-synthesizing capacity in stimulated leukocytes were measured follow ing parenteral omega-3 FA nutrition in 20 postoperative patients. Tota l parenteral nutrition (TPN) over 5 days postoperatively was isonitrog enous (0.24 g N . kg(-1). d(-1)) and isoenergetic (92 kJ/22 kcal . kg( -1). d(-1)), containing 0.15 g fish oil and 0.85 g soybean oil per kg( -1). d(-1) (FO) or 1.0 g soybean oil . kg(-1). d(-1) (SO). Following 5 days' FO administration, the content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) w as increased 2.5-fold, LTB(5) 1.5-fold, and LTC(5) sevenfold. With SO nutrition, EPA and LTB(5) generation remained unaltered, whereas LTC(5 ) doubled. The production of LTB(4) and LTC(4) was not affected in any of the groups. We conclude that a 5-day parenteral fish oil supplemen tation has an immunomodulatory effect on lipid-mediator generation in human leukocytes in postoperative trauma. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. S aunders Company