TY - JOUR
T1 - Systematic review of the effects of n-3 fatty acids in inflammatory bowel disease
AU - MacLean, Catherine H.
AU - Mojica, Walter A.
AU - Newberry, Sydne J.
AU - Pencharz, James
AU - Garland, Rena Hasenfeld
AU - Tu, Wenli
AU - Hilton, Lara G.
AU - Gralnek, Ian M.
AU - Rhodes, Shannon
AU - Khanna, Puja
AU - Morton, Sally C.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Background: n-3 Fatty acids are purported to have health effects in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but studies have reported mixed results. Objective: We aimed to synthesize published and unpublished evidence to determine estimates of the effect of n-3 fatty acids on clinical outcomes in IBD and whether n-3 fatty acids modify the effects of or need for treatment with other agents. Design: Computerized databases were searched for studies of n-3 fatty acids in immune-mediated diseases from 1966 to 2003. We also contacted experts in the nutraceutical industry to identify unpublished studies; however, none were identified. Results: Reviewers identified 13 controlled trials that assessed the effects of n-3 fatty acids on clinical, sigmoidoscopic, or histologic scores; rates of induced remission or relapse; or requirements for steroids and other immunosuppressive agents in Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis. Most clinical trials were of good quality. Fewer than 6 were identified that assessed the effects of n-3 fatty acids on any single outcome of clinical, endoscopic, or histologic scores or remission or relapse rates. Consistent across 3 studies was the finding that n-3 fatty acids reduce corticosteroid requirements, although statistical significance was shown in only 1 of these studies. Conclusion: The available data are insufficient to draw conclusions about the effects of n-3 fatty acids on clinical, endoscopic, or histologic scores or remission or relapse rates.
AB - Background: n-3 Fatty acids are purported to have health effects in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but studies have reported mixed results. Objective: We aimed to synthesize published and unpublished evidence to determine estimates of the effect of n-3 fatty acids on clinical outcomes in IBD and whether n-3 fatty acids modify the effects of or need for treatment with other agents. Design: Computerized databases were searched for studies of n-3 fatty acids in immune-mediated diseases from 1966 to 2003. We also contacted experts in the nutraceutical industry to identify unpublished studies; however, none were identified. Results: Reviewers identified 13 controlled trials that assessed the effects of n-3 fatty acids on clinical, sigmoidoscopic, or histologic scores; rates of induced remission or relapse; or requirements for steroids and other immunosuppressive agents in Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis. Most clinical trials were of good quality. Fewer than 6 were identified that assessed the effects of n-3 fatty acids on any single outcome of clinical, endoscopic, or histologic scores or remission or relapse rates. Consistent across 3 studies was the finding that n-3 fatty acids reduce corticosteroid requirements, although statistical significance was shown in only 1 of these studies. Conclusion: The available data are insufficient to draw conclusions about the effects of n-3 fatty acids on clinical, endoscopic, or histologic scores or remission or relapse rates.
KW - Inflammatory bowel disease
KW - n-3 Fatty acids
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U2 - 10.1093/ajcn/82.3.611
DO - 10.1093/ajcn/82.3.611
M3 - Article
C2 - 16155275
AN - SCOPUS:27244435407
VL - 82
SP - 611
EP - 619
JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
SN - 0002-9165
IS - 3
ER -