The effect of parenteral fish oil on leukocyte membrane fatty acid composition and leukotriene-synthesizing capacity in patients with postoperative trauma☆

Abstract 

The incorporation of ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids (FAs) into leukocyte membranes and the leukotriene (LT)B₄-, LTB₅-, LTC₄-, and LTC₅-synthesizing capacity in stimulated leukocytes were measured following parenteral ω-3 FA nutrition in 20 postoperative patients. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) over 5 days postoperatively was isonitrogenous (0.24 g N · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹) and isoenergetic (92 kJ/22 kcal · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹), containing 0.15 g fish oil and 0.85 g soybean oil per kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ (FO) or 1.0 g soybean oil · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ (SO). Following 5 days' FO administration, the content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was increased 2.5-fold, LTB₅ 1.5-fold, and LTC₅ sevenfold. With SO nutrition, EPA and LTB₅ generation remained unaltered, whereas LTC₅ doubled. The production of LTB₄ and LTC₄ was not affected in any of the groups. We conclude that a 5-day parenteral fish oil supplementation has an immunomodulatory effect on lipid-mediator generation in human leukocytes in postoperative trauma.

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