Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): pathogenesis and treatment

There is considerable evidence to suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) alleviate a number of inflammatory diseases, mainly the fish derivatives, n-3 PUFAs. My aim is to briefly review the literature involving clinical interventions with these lipid compounds in the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Data available are conflicting and the reason for the discrepancies in the findings could reside in the different study designs. Often studies are limited by the choice of placebo and insufficient washout period and direct comparison of trials is hampered by the use of various formulations and dosages of n-3 PUFAs. The importance of the n-3 PUFAs formulation in lowering the incidence of side effects along with careful selection of patients and experimental design seems to be associated with benefits. It is possible these fatty acids act by reducing low-grade active inflammation rather than by preventing reinitiation of the inflammatory process from a truly quiescent state. Whether this treatment is applicable to all patients with IBD has not been fully elucidated. Nevertheless, taken together, all these studies suggest the effectiveness of these new therapeutic approaches, not only when the conventional treatment fails or it is not possible to treat chronically, but also, in some instances as first choice.