Effect of omega-3 (n−3) fatty acid supplementation in patients with sickle cell anemia: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

The findings of this trial, which need to be verified in a large multicenter study, suggest that omega-3 fatty acids can be an effective, safe, and affordable therapy for sickle cell anemia. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials as ISRCTN80844630.

Omega 3 (n−3) fatty acids down-regulate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) gene and blood cell adhesion molecule expression in patients with homozygous sickle cell disease

“…Interestingly, SCD patients with PHT have higher levels of markers of endothelial activation, coagulation activation and other inflammatory markers than SCD patients without PHT. Hence the clinical importance of the findings of this study, besides supporting previous reports about the positive therapeutic effect of n − 3 fatty acids in SCD [16,18,19,37], that it suggests high DHA n − 3 supplement as a potential intervention to prevent PHT, stroke and other SCD vasculopathy-related complications.…”

“…The observed decrease in TWBC owing to n −3 fatty acids supplementation is constituent with findings obtained from conditions other than SCD [29][30][31] and patients with SCD [16]. It is tenable; this 524.3 ± 141.4 487.6 ± 141.4 509.6 ± 232.9 484.5 ± 217.5 reduction in blood cell count was a manifestation of an improved inflammatory state [32,33] or diminished haemopoietic activity of the bone marrow [34].…”

“…These findings indicated the important role of fatty acid abnormality in the chronic inflammatory state associated with the disease [14,15]. In addition, our group and others have shown that supplementing SCD patients with omega-3 fatty acids corrects cell membrane abnormalities and confer protection against vaso-occlusive pain episodes, severe anaemia and oxidative stress [16][17][18][19], and improves red blood cells flexibility in mice [20]. However, little is known about the potential antiinflammatory role of n−3 fatty acids in SCD.…”

“…This study was conducted in the context of a single centre, two-arms, randomised, placebo-controlled, double blinded clinical trial [16]. Steady state homozygous (HbSS) sickle cell patients (who did not experience painful crisis or other acute medical condition for at least 1 month) were enrolled in Ibn-Aoaf Paediatric Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.…”

Blood Cell Membrane Omega-3 ( n -3) Fatty Acid Abnormality and Supplementation in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

“…We investigated the therapeutic potential of omega-3 fatty acids for patients with homozygous SCD in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial (Daak et al, 2013a), One hundred forty patients recruited from a single center in Sudan were randomly assigned and received, daily omega-3 capsules containing 277.8 mg DHA and 39.0 mg EPA or placebo for 1 year. One hundred twenty-eight patients were followed up and data obtained for intention-to-treat analysis.…”