Impact of oral omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in early sepsis on clinical outcome and immunomodulation

Abstract

Introduction: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response that is usually aggravated by inappropriate immune responses, which can be inhibited by omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acid plus antioxidants in early sepsis. Methods: 75 patients with sepsis were divided equally into: (group A) who received high dose omega-3 fatty acids plus fixed dose antioxidants for consecutive 7 days besides conventional sepsis treatment, (group B) who received the same treatment as group A but a lower dose of omega-3 fatty acids and the control group who received only conventional sepsis treatment. All groups were followed up by: Inflammatory markers, SOFA score monitoring, need for organ supportive measures, length of ICU stay, 28 day mortality, final outcome and complications. Results: Compared to the control group, the high dose omega-3 fatty acid exhibited significantly lower levels of CRP, IL6 and PCT at day 7 (P = 0.047, 0.05, 0.041 respectively). Compared to the control group, group A patients showed significantly lesser need and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.044, 0.038 respectively), significantly reduced development of severe sepsis indicated by mean and highest SOFA score; (P = 0.040 and 0.046 respectively), with insignificant difference in the need for vasopressors and hemodialysis (P = 0.12, 0.6 respectively). Comparing low dose omega-3 fatty acids plus antioxidants group to control group using same parameters, no significant results were found. Conclusion: The use of a short term high dose omega-3 therapy is safe and associated with promising effects on inflammatory cascade and may play a role in treatment of these patients.

Keywords

• Omega-3 fatty acid
• Antioxidants
• Early sepsis
• CRP
• IL6
• PCT