ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACIDS INFLUENCE SURVIVAL IN SEPSIS

Metabolites of arachidonic acid, formed from omega-6 essential fatty a cids (n-6), play a pathologic role in mortality from sepsis. Metabolit es of eicosapentaenoic acid, formed from omega-3 essential fatty acids (n-3), are less potent inflammatory mediators. Dietary restriction of n-6 fatty acids or supplementation with n-3 fatty acids in the form o f fish oil have been shown to decrease the production of n-6 metabolit es. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (350-400 g) were divided to receive eithe r rat chow (CHOW) or essential-fatty-acid-deficient chow (EFAD) and su bdivided to receive 1 mL daily of either fish oil (N3), linoleic acid (N6), or normal saline (NS), via gastric gavage. Two weeks later, half of the animals in each group underwent cecal ligation and puncture (C LP) to induce peritonitis or sham (SHAM) celiotomy. Survival was tabul ated for 7 days. Survival was significantly decreased for animals unde rgoing CLP for both the N6 and NS groups but not for the N3 group. Ome ga-3 fatty acids as the sole essential fatty acids or as a supplement to a ''routine'' diet, when fed to rats for 2 weeks before a septic ch allenge, improved survival in this peritonitis model.