LEUKOTRIENES, FISH-OIL, AND ASTHMA

Studies suggest that leukotrienes which have been metabolized from ara chidonic acid released from membranes phospholipids during cell activa tion may play a significant role in a variety of inflammatory disorder s including the pathophysiology of chronic allergic asthma. Two major types of polyunsaturated fatty acids prominent in marine fish oils are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DCHA). These fi sh oils limit leukotriene synthesis and biological activities by subst ituting substrate fatty acids as alternatives to arachidonic acid Both EPA and DCHA inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid by the cycloo xygenase pathway to prostanoid metabolites and reduce the production o f platelet-activating factor (PAF).