Intervention Review

Dietary marine fatty acids (fish oil) for asthma in adults and children

  1. Francis CK Thien2,
  2. Stefano De Luca3,*,
  3. Rosalie K Woods4,
  4. Michael J Abramson5

Editorial Group: Cochrane Airways Group

Published Online: 21 JAN 2009

Assessed as up-to-date: 18 MAY 2010

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001283

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Thien FCK, De Luca S, Woods RK, Abramson MJ. Dietary marine fatty acids (fish oil) for asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD001283. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001283.

Author Information

  1. 2

    Eastern Health, Respiratory Medicine, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia

  2. 3

    An, Italy

  3. 4

    Monash Medical School, Department of Epidemiolgy and Preventative Medicine, Prahran, Victoria, Australia

  4. 5

    Monash University, Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

*Stefano De Luca, Medicina Interna, U.O Pneumologia,, Azienda Sanitaria Unica Regionale, Zona Territoriale n°7, Ospedale di Osimo, via Leopardi 15, Osimo, 60027, Italy. sdeluca@mac.com. stefano@stefanodeluca.net.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: New search for studies and content updated (no change to conclusions)
  2. Published Online: 21 JAN 2009

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Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Background

Epidemiological studies suggest that a diet high in marine fatty acids (fish oil) may have beneficial effects on inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and possibly asthma.

Objectives

(1) To determine the effect of marine n-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplementation in asthma.
(2) To determine the effect of a diet high in fish oil in asthma.

Search methods

We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register. We also searched bibliographies of retrieved trials and contacted fish oil manufacturers. Searches were current as of May 2010.

Selection criteria

We included randomised controlled trials in patients with asthma more than two years of age. The study duration had to be in excess of four weeks. Double blind trials were preferred, but we also reviewed single-blind and open trials for possible inclusion.

All four reviewers read each paper, blind to its identity. Decisions concerning inclusion were made by simple majority. We all performed quality assessment independently.

Data collection and analysis

The only comparison possible was between marine n-3 fatty acid supplementation and placebo. There were insufficient trials to examine dietary manipulation alone.

Main results

Nine randomised controlled trials conducted between 1986 and 2001 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Seven were of parallel design and two were cross-over studies. Eight compared fish oil with placebo whilst one compared high dose versus low dose marine n-3 fatty acid supplementation. Two studies were conducted in children, whilst the remaining seven studies were conducted in adults. None of the included studies reported asthma exacerbations, health status or hospital admissions.

There was no consistent effect on any of the analysable outcomes: FEV1, peak flow rate, asthma symptoms, asthma medication use or bronchial hyper reactivity. One of the studies performed in children which combined dietary manipulation with fish oil supplementation showed improved peak flow and reduced asthma medication use. There were no adverse events associated with fish oil supplements.

Authors' conclusions

There is little evidence to recommend that people with asthma supplement or modify their dietary intake of marine n-3 fatty acids (fish oil) in order to improve their asthma control. Equally, there is no evidence that they are at risk if they do so.

 

Plain language summary

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Dietary marine fatty acids (fish oil) for asthma in adults and children

Eating more fish has been recommended as one way of possibly reducing asthma. Populations (such as Eskimo communities) with diets high in fish also have low rates of asthma. As diets in other communities have become higher in saturated fats, asthma has also increased. The theory has been that an ingredient in fish oil may reduce inflammation. Inflammation causes the swelling in the airways of the lungs that leads to asthma attacks. However, this review of trials found that people with asthma changing their diets to include more fish oil did not improve their asthma.

 

摘要

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

背景

食用海洋脂肪酸(魚油)用於治療成人和兒童的氣喘病

流行病學研究顯示，飲食中如果含有食用海洋脂肪酸(魚油)可能對發炎性疾病,像是風濕性關節炎或是氣喘病有正面的幫助。

目標

(1)探討海洋n3脂肪酸(魚油)對氣喘病的效果。(2)探討高魚油含量的飲食對氣喘病的效果。

搜尋策略

我們搜尋了Cochrane Airways Group 專門登錄資料。我們搜尋了納入臨床試驗的書目並聯繫魚油製造商。目前搜查截至2006年5月。

選擇標準

我們納入的隨機對照試驗(randomised controlled trials)的氣喘患者至少大於兩歲。研究期間至少要超過四個星期。我們的首選是雙盲試驗(double blind trials)，但我們也審查單盲試驗(singleblind trials)和開放試驗(open trials)。所有4名審查員在不知道作者的前提下閱讀每篇文章。我們用簡單多數來決定納入的文章。我們獨立進行質性評估。

資料收集與分析

唯一可能的對照是比較海洋n3脂肪酸補充劑和安慰劑。我們沒有足夠的臨床試驗數去檢視單獨的飲食控制(dietary manipulation)。

主要結論

在1986年至2001年之間,有9個隨機對照試驗符合納入標準。7個是平行設計(parallel design)，2個是交叉研究(crossover studies)。8個比較魚油與安慰劑，1個比較高劑量跟低劑量的海洋n3脂肪酸補充劑。2項對兒童做研究，其餘7項對成人做研究。沒有任何納入的研究有報告急性發作的氣喘病，健康狀況或者住院紀錄。沒有任何可分析的一貫結果：1秒鐘的用力呼氣量(FEV1),呼氣峰流速(Peak flow rate),氣喘病症狀,氣喘病藥物使用或是支氣管過度反應。其中一個對兒童的研究,結合魚油補充劑和飲食控制,顯示會改善高峰流量，以及減少氣喘藥物的使用。使用魚油補充劑沒有任何副作用。

作者結論

只有很少的證據建議氣喘病人補充或修改其食物中攝取的海洋n3脂肪酸(魚油)，以改善他們的氣喘控制。同樣的，沒有證據顯示這樣做會有什麼風險。

翻譯人

本摘要由臺北醫學大學萬芳醫院楊璧如翻譯。

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院(National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan)統籌。

總結

添加海洋脂肪酸(魚油)的飲食似乎對改善氣喘病沒有效果。攝取更多的魚類已被推薦為一個降低氣喘病的可能方法。飲食中含有較多魚類的人群(如愛斯基摩人社區)其氣喘率也比較低。當其他族群的飲食中的高飽和脂肪增加，氣喘病也增加了。該理論是說魚油中的一種成分可減少發炎反應。發炎反應導致肺部的呼吸道腫脹,引發氣喘病。不過，這次文獻回顧顯示，氣喘病患改變飲食,攝取更多的魚油,並沒有改善他們的氣喘病。

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