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Dietary Formulation Comprising Arachidonic Acid and Methods of Use (BIDMC 351)
Category: Foods and Plant Sciences
KeyWords: Metabolic Diseases; Nutriceutical;
BIDMC ID: 351
Abstract:
Protein calorie malnutrition is a common complication in patients with chronic liver disease. One potential mechanism for malnutrition in chronic liver disease patients is an inadequate intake of essential fatty acids. The two fatty acids essential in human nutrition are linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid from which polysaturated fatty acids of the omega 6 series and omega 3 series are formed. Patients with advanced liver disease may have an impaired ability to form these conditionally essential fatty acids. It has been shown that elongation and desaturation are the limiting factors of this process. It is reasonable to suspect that some of the untoward side effects of end stage liver disease, including decreased immunocompetence and increased risk of infection and mortality, may be a consequence of conditional essential fatty acid deficiency. Addition of arachidonic acid alone to a diet formulation is problematic since it is pro-inflammatory and immunosupressive, and alternatives to that such as eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid would likely lead to lowering of arachidonic acid levels. Thus a need exists to develop a novel dietary formulation which could restore arachidonic acid levels and provide added immune-enhancing benefits.
This invention provides a novel formulation that restores arachidonic acid levels which can improve immune function of the patient. Significant increase in the linoleic acid and sum of omega 6 fatty acids has been shown in liver diseased patients post supplementation.
Inventor: Bruce Bistrian
Commercial Opportunity:
The method of the invention is particularly useful for patients who are critically ill for a variety of reasons including surgery, burns, trauma, cancer, AIDS, multisystem organ failure, sepsis, or inflammatory process. It is also useful for individuals who may have an infection at time of administration of the diet, or may be at risk of infection due to immunocompromise.
Competitive Advantages:
Unlike addition of arachdonic acid alone to a diet formulation which is pro-inflammatory or the alternative of EPA or DHA which are likely to lower arachdonic acid levels, the formulation described here can restore arachidonic acid levels and improve immune function of the patient.
Related Publications:
· Incidence, prognosis, and etiology of end-stage liver disease in patients receiving home total parenteral nutrition.
Chan S, McCowen KC, Bistrian BR, Thibault A, Keane-Ellison M, Forse RA, Babineau T, Burke P. Surgery. 1999 Jul;126(1):28-34 http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0039606099001701
· Conditionally essential fatty acid deficiencies in end-stage liver disease.
Burke PA, Ling PR, Forse RA, Bistrian BR. Nutrition. 1999 Apr;15(4):302-4 http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0899900799000027
· Role of arachidonic acid in the regulation of the inflammatory response in TNF-alpha-treated rats.
Ling PR, Boyce P, Bistrian BR. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1998 Sep-Oct;22(5):268-75
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