Crohn's Disease: Could Omega-3s Help?
Hello, I have been suffering from Crohn's disease for about 12 years and have already undergone intestinal resection surgery. Additionally, for the past two years, I have been affected by myasthenia gravis. I take the following medications daily: Esopral 40mg (1 per day); Enterasin 400mg (3x2 per day); Azathioprine 50mg (2 per day); Deltacortene alternating 50 and 25 mg per day. I would like to know if Omega-3 capsules could improve my inflammation and not interfere with the medications I am taking.
Dear Cosimo,
the literature includes several studies regarding the ability of Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA to relieve symptoms and prolong the remission period in cases of Crohn's disease (see Belluzzi et al 1996) in patients with Crohn's syndrome.
Before adding Omega-3 supplementation to your current therapy, it is essential to consult the specialist who follows you.
Best regards.
Dr. Rosaria Ramondino, pharmacist
Study Summary Table
| Authors | Patients | Duration | Description | Dosage | Result |
| Tsujikawa et al | 20 patients with Crohn's disease | 1 month | Open-label study using a diet with omega-3:omega-6 ratio = 0.5 | ND | Reduction in CRP levels, increase in remission percentage |
| Lorenz et al | 39 patients with IBD (29 with Crohn's disease) | 7 months | Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover with fish oil | 1.8 g EPA and 1.3 g DHA per day | Reduction in inflammation mediators TXB2 & LTB4, improved morphology, no change in disease activity |
| Hillier et al | 10 patients with IBD | 12 weeks | Open-label – fish oil vs. olive oil | 3.2 g EPA, 2.2 g DHA per day | Reduction in inflammation mediators PGE2, TXB2, & LTB4 |
| Lorenz-Meyer et al | 204 patients with Crohn's disease in remission | 1 year | Fish oil supplementation vs. placebo or low-carb diet | 3.3 g EPA, 1.8 g DHA per day | No difference in relapse rates between fish oil and placebo groups |
| Belluzzi et al | 78 patients with Crohn's disease in remission | 1 year | Double-blind, placebo-controlled, with fish oil | 1.8 g EPA, 0.9 g DHA per day | 41% reduction in relapses in the fish oil group; 33% more patients in remission after 1 year |
| Arslan et al | 10 patients with IBD (5 with Crohn's disease and 5 with ulcerative colitis) | 10 days | Pilot open-label study with seal oil | 1.8 g EPA, 2.6 g DHA, 1.0 g DPA per day | Reduction in disease activity, reduction in joint pain |
Study List Kuroki F, Iida M, Matsumoto T, et al. Serum n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are depleted in Crohn's disease. Dig Dis Sci 1997;42:1137-1141. Alzoghaibi MA, Walsh SW, Willey A, et al. Linoleic acid induces interleukin-8 production by Crohn's human intestinal smooth muscle cells via arachidonic acid metabolites. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2004;286:G528-G537. Tsujikawa T, Satoh J, Uda K, et al. Clinical importance of n-3 fatty acid-rich diet and nutritional education for the maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease. J Gastroenterol 2000;35:99-104. Lorenz R, Weber PC, Szimnau P, et al. Supplements with n-3 fatty acids from fish oil in chronic inflammatory bowel disease, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over trial. J Intern Med 1989;225:225-232. Hillier K, Jewell R, Dorrell L, Smith CL. Incorporation of fatty acids from fish oil and olive oil into colonic mucosal lipids and effects upon eicosanoid synthesis in inflammatory bowel disease. Gut 1991;32:1151-1155. Lorenz-Meyer H, Bauer P, Nicolay C, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and low carbohydrate diet for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease. A randomized controlled multicenter trial. Study Group Members (German Crohn's Disease Study Group). Scand J Gastroenterol 1996;31:778-785. Belluzzi A, Brignola C, Campieri M, et al. Effect of an enteric-coated fish-oil preparation on relapses in Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med 1996;334:1557-1560. Arslan G, Brunborg LA, Froyland L, et al. Effects of duodenal seal oil administration in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Lipids 2002;37:935-940.
