Polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory bowel disease

The rationale for supplementation with n-3 fatty acids to promote the healt h of the gastrointestinal tract lies in the antiinflammatory effects of the se lipid compounds. The first evidence of the importance of dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was derived from epidemiologic observati ons of the low incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Eskimos. The aim of this paper was to briefly review the literature on the use of n-3 fatty acids in inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease), the results of which are controversial. The discrepancies between studies may reside in the different study designs used as well as in the various fo rmulations and dosages used, some of which may lead to a high incidence of side effects. Choosing a formulation that lowers the incidence of side effe cts, selecting patients carefully, and paying strict attention to experimen tal design are critical when investigating further the therapeutic potentia l of these lipids in inflammatory bowel disease.