The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Clinical Review

• Published in: BioMed research international Vol. 2015; no. 2015; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Sabater, J., Roca, O., Caralt, B., Leal, S., García de Acilu, M., Masclans, J. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01-01-2015; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Antioxidants - metabolism; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Care and treatment; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - metabolism; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - therapeutic use; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; gamma-Linolenic Acid - metabolism; gamma-Linolenic Acid - therapeutic use; Health aspects; Hemodynamics - drug effects; Humans; Respiratory distress syndrome; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - diet therapy; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - metabolism; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - pathology; Review; Rodents; Studies; Unsaturated fatty acids
• ISSN: 2314-6133; 2314-6141
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/653750

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as the acute onset of noncardiogenic edema and subsequent gas-exchange impairment due to a severe inflammatory process. Recent report on the prognostic value of eicosanoids in patients with ARDS suggests that modulating the inflammatory response through the use of polyunsaturated fatty acids may be a useful strategy for ARDS treatment. The use of enteral diets enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) has reported promising results, showing an improvement in respiratory variables and haemodynamics. However, the interpretation of the studies is limited by their heterogeneity and methodology and the effect of ω-3 fatty acid-enriched lipid emulsion or enteral diets on patients with ARDS remains unclear. Therefore, the routine use of ω-3 fatty acid-enriched nutrition cannot be recommended and further large, homogeneous, and high-quality clinical trials need to be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.