Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for cystic fibrosis. 2020

Helen Watson, and Caroline Stackhouse
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0QQ.

Studies suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects for chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis. This is an updated version of a previously published review. To determine whether there is evidence that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality and to identify any adverse events associated with supplementation. We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Trials Register comprising references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and handsearches of relevant journals and abstract books of conference proceedings. Date of last search: 01 April 2020. We also searched online study registries and contacted authors. Date of last search: 12 February 2020. Randomised controlled trials in people with cystic fibrosis comparing omega-3 fatty acid supplements with placebo. Two authors independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the studies. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. The searches identified 23 studies; five studies with 106 participants (children and adults) were included; duration of studies and interventions differed. Two studies compared omega-3 fatty acids to olive oil for six weeks; one study compared omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids to control capsules (customised fatty acid blends) for three months; one study compared a liquid dietary supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids to one without for six months; and one study compared omega-3 fatty acids to a placebo for 12 months. Three studies had a low risk of bias for randomisation, but the risk was unclear in the remaining two studies; all studies had an unclear risk of bias for allocation concealment. Three of the studies adequately blinded participants; the risk of bias for selective reporting was high in one study and unclear for four studies. Two studies reported the number of respiratory exacerbations. At three months, one study (43 participants) reported no change in antibiotic usage. At 12 months the second study (15 participants) reported a reduction in the number of pulmonary exacerbations and cumulative antibiotic days in the supplement group compared to the previous year (no data for the control group); very low-quality evidence means we are unsure whether supplementation has any effect on this outcome. With regards to adverse events, one six-week study (12 participants) reported no difference in diarrhoea between omega-3 or placebo capsules; the very low-quality evidence means we are unsure if supplementation has any effect on this outcome. Additionally, one study reported an increase in steatorrhoea requiring participants to increase their daily dose of pancreatic enzymes, but three studies had already increased pancreatic enzyme dose at study begin so as to reduce the incidence of steatorrhoea. One study (43 participants) reported stomach pains at three months (treatment or control group not specified). One six-week study (19 participants) reported three asthma exacerbations leading to exclusion of participants since corticosteroid treatment could affect affect essential fatty acid metabolism. Four studies reported lung function. One six-week study (19 participants) reported an increase in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (L) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (L), but the very low-quality evidence means we are unsure if supplementation has any effect on lung function. The remaining studies did not report any difference in lung function at three months (unit of measurement not specified) or at six months and one year (FEV1 % predicted and FVC % predicted). No deaths were reported in any of the five studies. Four studies reported clinical variables. One study reported an increase in Schwachman score and weight alongside a reduction in sputum volume with supplementation compared to placebo at three months (data not analysable). However, three studies reported no differences in either weight at six weeks, in body mass index (BMI) standard deviation (SD) score at six months (very low-quality evidence) or BMI Z score at 12 months. Three studies reported biochemical markers of fatty acid status. One study showed an increase from baseline in both EPA and DHA content of serum phospholipids in the omega-3 group compared to placebo at three months and also a significant decrease in n-6/n-3 ratio in the supplement group compared to placebo; since the quality of the evidence is very low we are not certain that these changes are due to supplementation. One six-month cross-over study showed a higher EPA content of the neutrophil membrane in the supplement group compared to the placebo group, but, no difference in DHA membrane concentration. Furthermore, the leukotriene B4 to leukotriene B5 ratio was lower at six months in the omega-3 group compared to placebo. A one-year study reported a greater increase in the essential fatty acid profile and a decrease in AA levels in the treatment arm compared to placebo. This review found that regular omega-3 supplements may provide some limited benefits for people with cystic fibrosis with relatively few adverse effects: however, the quality of the evidence across all outcomes was very low. The current evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions or recommend routine use of these supplements in people with cystic fibrosis. A large, long-term, multicentre, randomised controlled study is needed to determine any significant therapeutic effect and to assess the influence of disease severity, dosage and duration of treatment. Future researchers should note the need for additional pancreatic enzymes when providing omega-3 supplementation or olive oil placebo capsules. More research is required to determine the exact dose of pancreatic enzyme required.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003550 Cystic Fibrosis An autosomal recessive genetic disease of the EXOCRINE GLANDS. It is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRANSMEMBRANE CONDUCTANCE REGULATOR expressed in several organs including the LUNG, the PANCREAS, the BILIARY SYSTEM, and the SWEAT GLANDS. Cystic fibrosis is characterized by epithelial secretory dysfunction associated with ductal obstruction resulting in AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION; chronic RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS; PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY; maldigestion; salt depletion; and HEAT PROSTRATION. Mucoviscidosis,Cystic Fibrosis of Pancreas,Fibrocystic Disease of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cystic Fibrosis,Pulmonary Cystic Fibrosis,Cystic Fibrosis, Pancreatic,Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary,Fibrosis, Cystic,Pancreas Fibrocystic Disease,Pancreas Fibrocystic Diseases
D005541 Forced Expiratory Volume Measure of the maximum amount of air that can be expelled in a given number of seconds during a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination . It is usually given as FEV followed by a subscript indicating the number of seconds over which the measurement is made, although it is sometimes given as a percentage of forced vital capacity. Forced Vital Capacity, Timed,Timed Vital Capacity,Vital Capacity, Timed,FEVt,Capacities, Timed Vital,Capacity, Timed Vital,Expiratory Volume, Forced,Expiratory Volumes, Forced,Forced Expiratory Volumes,Timed Vital Capacities,Vital Capacities, Timed,Volume, Forced Expiratory,Volumes, Forced Expiratory
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000069463 Olive Oil Oil extracted from fruit of the OLIVE TREE (genus Olea). Olive Oils,Oil, Olive,Oils, Olive
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014797 Vital Capacity The volume of air that is exhaled by a maximal expiration following a maximal inspiration. Forced Vital Capacity,Capacities, Forced Vital,Capacities, Vital,Capacity, Forced Vital,Capacity, Vital,Forced Vital Capacities,Vital Capacities,Vital Capacities, Forced,Vital Capacity, Forced
D015525 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 A group of unsaturated fatty acids occurring mainly in fish oils, with three double bonds at particular positions in the hydrocarbon chain. N-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oil,n3 Oil,Omega 3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oils,n-3 PUFA,n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,n3 Fatty Acid,n3 Oils,n3 PUFA,n3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Acid, N-3 Fatty,Acid, Omega-3 Fatty,Fatty Acid, N-3,Fatty Acid, Omega-3,Fatty Acid, n3,N 3 Fatty Acid,Oil, n-3,Oil, n3,Omega 3 Fatty Acid,PUFA, n-3,PUFA, n3,n 3 Fatty Acids,n 3 Oil,n 3 Oils,n 3 PUFA,n 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid
D015982 Bias Any deviation of results or inferences from the truth, or processes leading to such deviation. Bias can result from several sources: one-sided or systematic variations in measurement from the true value (systematic error); flaws in study design; deviation of inferences, interpretations, or analyses based on flawed data or data collection; etc. There is no sense of prejudice or subjectivity implied in the assessment of bias under these conditions. Aggregation Bias,Bias, Aggregation,Bias, Ecological,Bias, Statistical,Bias, Systematic,Ecological Bias,Outcome Measurement Errors,Statistical Bias,Systematic Bias,Bias, Epidemiologic,Biases,Biases, Ecological,Biases, Statistical,Ecological Biases,Ecological Fallacies,Ecological Fallacy,Epidemiologic Biases,Experimental Bias,Fallacies, Ecological,Fallacy, Ecological,Scientific Bias,Statistical Biases,Truncation Bias,Truncation Biases,Bias, Experimental,Bias, Scientific,Bias, Truncation,Biase, Epidemiologic,Biases, Epidemiologic,Biases, Truncation,Epidemiologic Biase,Error, Outcome Measurement,Errors, Outcome Measurement,Outcome Measurement Error
D016032 Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Works about clinical trials that involve at least one test treatment and one control treatment, concurrent enrollment and follow-up of the test- and control-treated groups, and in which the treatments to be administered are selected by a random process, such as the use of a random-numbers table. Clinical Trials, Randomized,Controlled Clinical Trials, Randomized,Trials, Randomized Clinical

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