A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-STUDY OF EVENING PRIMROSE OIL AND FISH OIL INULCERATIVE-COLITIS

In a placebo-controlled study, 43 patients with stable ulcerative coli tis were randomized to receive either MaxEPA (n = 16), super evening p rimrose oil (n = 19), or olive oil as placebo (n = 8) for 6 months, in addition to their usual treatment. Treatment with MaxEPA increased re d-cell membrane concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at 3 mon ths by three-fold and at 6 months by four-fold (both P < 0.01), and do ubled docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels at 6 months (P < 0.05). Treatm ent with super evening primrose oil increased red-cell membrane concen trations of dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) by 40% at 6 months (P < 0.05), whilst treatment with placebo reduced levels of DGLA and DHA at 6 months (both P < 0.05). Clinical outcome was assessed by patient di ary cards, sigmoidoscopy and histology of rectal biopsy specimens. Sup er evening primrose oil significantly improved stool consistency compa red to MaxEPA and placebo at 6 months, and this difference was maintai ned 3 months after treatment was discontinued (P < 0.05). There was ho wever, no difference in stool frequency, rectal bleeding, disease rela pse' sigmoidoscopic appearance or rectal histology in the three treatm ent groups. Despite manipulation of cell-membrane fatty acids, fish oi ls do not exert a therapeutic effect in ulcerative colitis, while even ing primrose oil may be of some benefit.