Oil supplementation with a special combination of n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids does not protect for exercise induced asthma. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background Many patients suffering from exercise-induced asthma (EIA) have normal lung function at rest and show symptoms and a decline in FEV 1 when they do sports or during exercise-challenge. It has been described that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) could exert a protective effect on EIA. Methods In this study the protective effect of supplementation with a special combination of n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA (sc-LCPUFA) (total 1.19 g/ day) were investigated in an EIA cold air provocation model. Primary outcome measure: Decrease in FEV 1 after exercise challenge and secondary outcome measure: anti-inflammatory effects monitored by exhaled NO (eNO) before and after sc-LCPUFA supplementation versus placebo. Results 99 patients with exercise-induced symptoms aged 10 to 45 were screened by a standardized exercise challenge in a cold air chamber at 4 °C. 73 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of a FEV 1 decrease >15% and were treated double-blind placebo-controlled for four weeks either with sc-LCPUFA or placebo. 32 patients in each group completed the study. Mean FEV 1 decrease after cold air exercise challenge and eNO were unchanged after four weeks sc-LCPUFA supplementation. Conclusion Supplementation with sc-LCPUFA at a dose of 1.19 g/d did not have any broncho-protective ant anti-inflammatory effects on EIA.