The role of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in intestinal inflammation and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation has been shown to reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in a recent random ized, controlled trial. These compounds are known to modulate the inflammat ory cascade and to influence intestinal health in a variety of ways. Althou gh the pathophysiology of NEC is not well understood, recent evidence sugge sts that platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a key endogenous mediator of i ntestinal necrosis in animals. Using a neonatal rat model of NEC that inclu des the key risk factors of asphyxia and formula feeding, we investigated t he role of dietary PUFA supplementation on the incidence and pathophysiolog y of NEC. Our findings suggest that PUFA reduce the incidence of NEC by mod ulating PAF metabolism and endotoxin translocation.