Original Paper

Effect of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Asthma after Low-Dose Allergen Challenge
R. Schubert^a, R. Kitz^a, C. Beermann^b, M.A. Rose^a, A. Lieb^a, P.C. Sommerer^a, J. Moskovits^a, H. Alberternst^a, H.J. Böhles^a, J. Schulze^a, S. Zielen<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Pediatrics/ZAFES, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, and
^bNumico Research Germany, Friedrichsdorf, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2009;148:321-329 (DOI: 10.1159/000170386)

  Key Words

• Allergic asthma
• n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Nutrition
• Low-dose allergen challenge
• Exhaled nitric oxide

  Abstract

Background: We investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on specific bronchial inflammation. Allergic asthmatics were challenged using a low-dose allergen provocation model. Methods: Our parallel double-blinded study randomly assigned 23 house dust mite-allergic asthmatics (aged 22-29 years; 13 females, 10 males) to dietary supplementation with either an n-3 PUFA-enriched fat blend (0.69 g/day) or placebo for 5 weeks. After 3 weeks, the patients were challenged daily with low doses of mite allergen for 2 weeks. Primary outcome parameters were effects on lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s, FEV₁) and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) as a marker of bronchial inflammation. Results: Even before the bronchial challenge, eNO was significantly lower in the n-3 PUFA group (p = 0.014). Levels of eNO increased during allergen exposure in both groups, but differences in means were significantly lower in the n-3 PUFA group (p = 0.022). During the low-dose allergen challenge, there were no differences between the groups with regard to symptoms, FEV₁ or the allergen dose required to induce deterioration of lung function (PD₂₀). Numbers of sputum eosinophils did not differ significantly, while serum eosinophils (10.1 ± 0.1.84 vs. 5.79 ± 0.69%) as well as changes in eosinophilic cationic protein (20.5 ± 9.93 vs. -1.68 ± 4.36 ng/ml) and in vitro cysteinyl leukotriene release (2,889 ± 872 vs. 1,120 ± 173 ng/ml) were significantly lower in the n-3 PUFA group (p < 0.05 each). Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFA is able to reduce bronchial inflammation even after low-dose allergen challenge.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Richard Kitz
Department of Pediatrics/ZAFES
J.W. Goethe University, Theodor Stern Kai 7
DE-60590 Frankfurt/Main (Germany)
Tel. +49 69 6301 5754, Fax +49 69 6301 6061, E-Mail r.kitz@ckhf.de

  Article Information

R.S. and R.K. contributed equally to this work.

Received: March 25, 2008
Accepted after revision: June 4, 2008
Published online: November 11, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 36