Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

NCT ID: NCT02524795

Last Updated: 2015-08-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 49 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-03-31
• Study Completion Date: 2014-03-31

Brief Summary

Omega-3 fatty acids have been considered anti-inflammatory lipids based on data from epidemiological studies of Greenland Eskimos whose diet is rich in fish, sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Fatty acids from the omega-3 family [mainly the α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA)], as well as those of the omega-6 family [represented mainly by linoleic acid and arachidonic acid (AA)] are essential for the synthesis of eicosanoids, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes and other oxidative factors, major mediators and regulators of inflammation.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the loss of balance of cellular immunoregulation and increased levels of circulating inflammatory mediators.Thus, omega-3 supplementation could represent additional therapy for individuals with SLE.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on circulating levels of inflammatory and biochemical markers in women with SLE.

Detailed Description

This is a pilot clinical trial of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids carried out in SLE patients followed at the Rheumatology Unit of Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG.

Female patients who met the revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE (1982/1997)15, age over 18 years old and below 60 years old, who were taking stable doses of medications for the SLE treatment in the last three months were included. Exclusion criteria were the following: pregnancy, disease duration of less than one year, allergy to fish, fish oil or any omega-3 product, omega-3 use within the previous six months and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, liver disease, chronic renal failure, any type of infection at enrollment and/or throughout the study.

A 12 week pilot clinical trial of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was conducted. Participants were seen at baseline (T0) and at week 12 (T1) for clinical, laboratory and nutritional assessment. Participants were also contacted by telephone in week 6 to check on compliance and any adverse events. The patients were randomized into one of two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the study group received, throughout 12 weeks, two tablets per day of omega-3 fatty acids (540mg of EPA and DHA of 100mg; Hiomega-3 supplement of Naturalis® company - registered in the National Health Department number 4.1480.0006.001-4). Patients in the control group did not receive the nutrient nor any kind of placebo. All participants were instructed not to take omega-3 rich foods during the study period. The researcher (FMMS) who did clinical assessment and the inflammatory and biochemical data assessment was blind to randomization and intervention.

Variables measured at each visit included: disease activity index, using the Systemic Lupus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2k)16; damage index (Systemic Lupus International Collaboration Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index - SLICC/ACR)17; fasting lipid and glucose profile; standard laboratory tests to assess SLE (red and white blood count, platelet count, creatinine, urinalysis, urine protein/creatinine ratio, anti-dsDNA, anticardiolipin, C3 and C4 levels); cytokines (IL-6, IL-10), adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) C-reactive protein (CRP), nutritional assessment, and in use medications.

Conditions

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Hiomega-3 supplement

Patients in the study group received, throughout 12 weeks, two tablets per day of omega-3 fatty acids (540mg of EPA and DHA of 100mg; Hiomega-3 supplement of Naturalis® company). Participants were seen at baseline (T0) and at week 12 (T1) for clinical, laboratory and nutritional assessment.

Variables measured at each visit included: disease activity index, using the Systemic Lupus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2k)16; damage index (Systemic Lupus International Collaboration Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index - SLICC/ACR)17; fasting lipid and glucose profile; standard laboratory tests to assess SLE ; cytokines (IL-6, IL-10), adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) C-reactive protein (CRP), nutritional assessment, and in use medications.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Hiomega-3 supplement of Naturalis® company -

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Patients (N=22) were seen at baseline (T0) and at week 12 (T1) for clinical, laboratory and nutritional assessment, and were contacted by telephone in week 6 to check on compliance and any adverse events. Patients received, throughout 12 weeks, two tablets per day of omega-3 fatty acids (540mg of EPA and DHA of 100mg; Hiomega-3 supplement of Naturalis® company - registered in the National Health Department number 4.1480.0006.001-4). All participants were instructed not to take omega-3 rich foods during the study period.

Control group

Patients in the control group did not receive the nutrient nor any kind of placebo. They were seen at baseline (T0) and at week 12 (T1) for clinical, laboratory and nutritional assessment.

Variables measured at each visit included: disease activity index, using the Systemic Lupus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2k)16; damage index (Systemic Lupus International Collaboration Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index - SLICC/ACR)17; fasting lipid and glucose profile; standard laboratory tests to assess SLE ; cytokines (IL-6, IL-10), adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) C-reactive protein (CRP), nutritional assessment, and in use medications.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Hiomega-3 supplement of Naturalis® company -

Patients (N=22) were seen at baseline (T0) and at week 12 (T1) for clinical, laboratory and nutritional assessment, and were contacted by telephone in week 6 to check on compliance and any adverse events. Patients received, throughout 12 weeks, two tablets per day of omega-3 fatty acids (540mg of EPA and DHA of 100mg; Hiomega-3 supplement of Naturalis® company - registered in the National Health Department number 4.1480.0006.001-4). All participants were instructed not to take omega-3 rich foods during the study period.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Taking stable doses of medications for the SLE treatment in the last three months.

Exclusion Criteria

• pregnancy, disease duration of less than one year, allergy to fish, fish oil or any omega-3 product, omega-3 use within the previous six months and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, liver disease, chronic renal failure, any type of infection at enrollment and/or throughout the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Federal University of Minas Gerais

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Cristina Costa Duarte Lanna

MD, PhD, Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Maria Isabel TD Correia, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Federal University of Minas Gerais

References

Curado Borges M, de Miranda Moura Dos Santos F, Weiss Telles R, Melo de Andrade MV, Toulson Davisson Correia MI, Lanna CCD. Omega-3 fatty acids, inflammatory status and biochemical markers of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a pilot study. Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed. 2017 Nov-Dec;57(6):526-534. doi: 10.1016/j.rbre.2016.09.014. Epub 2016 Oct 22. English, Portuguese.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29173690 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

LES-001-O3

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id