The Importance of Lipid Type in the Diet after Burn Injury

Abstract

The effects of different types of dietary lipids were tested in burned guinea pigs. All diets were identical except for the type of lipid, with total energy intake from lipids equaling 10%. All animals received a 30% total body surface area (TBSA) flame burn and were fed identically by pump-controlled gastrostomy feedings for 14 days. When compared to safflower oil (74% linoleic acid) as well as linoleic acid alone, fish oil (18% eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA) administration resulted in less weight loss, better skeletal muscle mass, lower resting metabolic expenditure, better cell mediated immune responses, better opsonic indices, higher splenic weight, lower adrenal weight, higher serum transferrin, and lower serum C3 levels. With the exception of better cell mediated immune responses in the animals fed linoleic acid, the administration of indomethacin made little difference. These findings can be explained by a reduction in the synthesis of the dienoic prostaglandins that are derived from the omega 6 series of fatty acids, some of which are significantly immunosuppressive. Regulation of dietary lipids may be an important therapeutic advance in nutritional support after burn injury, and controlled trials should be considered.

Nutritional considerations in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation

“…However, its use in children with cancer is still anecdotal (Ford et al, 1997). Furthermore, dietary lipids (o-3-fatty acids) have been shown to boost immunological function (Alexander et al, 1986;Endres et al, 1989), but their use in children needs further investigation.…”

Omega-3 fatty acids and exercise: a review of their combined effects on body composition and physical performance

“…A number of studies show that n-3 supplementation results in greater accretion of muscle proteins in both animals [3,5,25] and human beings [49,65,70]. Increased protein synthesis may be secondary to n-3 mediated increases in cell membrane fluidity [2].…”

The scientific basis of immunonutrition

“…It should be remembered that in critically ill patients administration of n-3 PUFA is associated with a reduction in the 2-series of prostaglandins, thereby boosting the cellular defence function due to the ineffectiveness of feedback inhibition induced by prostaglandin E 2 (Lee et al 1984;Ninnemann & Stockland, 1984;Terano et al 1984;Lokesh & Kinsella, 1987). This hypothesis is supported by experimental data showing that administration of n-3 PUFA during hypermetabolism is associated with increased cytokine production (Watanabe et al 1991;Ertel et al 1993), improved antigen presentation (Ertel et al 1993), enhanced splenocyte proliferation (Ertel et al 1993), improved opsonization indices (Alexander et al 1986) and reduced mortality (Barton et al 1991).…”