Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study
Participants
22 pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The mean age was 11.7 years.
Interventions
Dietary supplementation with high-rich docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (Tridocosahexanoin-AOX(®) 70%) at 50 mg/kg/day. The duration of supplementation was 12 months. A total of 22 patients were included, with 11 in the DHA group and 11 in the placebo group.
Outcome measures
Pulmonary function, exacerbations, sputum cellularity, inflammatory biomarkers in sputum and peripheral blood, and anthropometric variables.
Main results
In the DHA group, there was a significant increase in FVC (p = 0.004) and FVE(1) expressed in liters (p = 0.044) as compared with placebo, and a lower median number of exacerbations (1 vs. 2). Differences in sputum cellularity (predominantly neutrophilic), neutrophilic elastase, and sputum and serum concentrations of resolvin D1 (RvD1), interleukin (IL)-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) between the study groups were not found. Significant increases in weight and height were also observed among DHA-supplemented patients. The administration of the study product was safe and well tolerated.
Authors' conclusions
The use of a highly concentrated DHA supplement for 1 year as compared with placebo improved pulmonary function and reduced exacerbations in pediatric CF.