Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: The Way Forward in Times of Mixed Evidence
Table 4
Current state of evidence for the effects of omega-3 PUFA in human studies regarding gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions.
Type of study
Beneficial effect
Beneficial effect limited to subpopulation
Detrimental effect
No effect
Clinical trials
Reduced rate of relapse with 2.7 g/d omega-3 PUFA in patients with Crohn’s disease in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in 78 patients [63]
Decreased liver fat content with increased DHA enrichment in NASH patients [64]
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment with approx. 4 g/d omega-3 PUFA did not prevent relapses in patients with Crohn’s disease [65]
Improvements in histologic findings and weight gain in 18 ulcerative colitis patients on 5 g/d EPA + DHA in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial [66]
Shortened hospital stay in an open-label randomized prospective study administering 3.3 g/d enteral fish oil in patients with acute pancreatitis [67]
Meta-analyses
Current data are not sufficient to support the concept of omega-3 PUFA supplementation for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease [68]
