8-11-14-eicosatrienoic-acid and Hypersensitivity

Allergy has been associated with altered fatty acid and inflammatory status. In this cross-sectional study of 321 rural iron deficient (ID) South African children (aged 6-11 years), a subsample (n=111) of children with parent-reported allergy data were divided into an allergic (n=30) and non-allergic (n=81) group and compared. PBMC arachidonic acid (ARA; P=0.010) and the PBMC ARA to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) ratio (P=0.035) were lower in the allergic children. Plasma 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA) were higher (P=0.040 and 0.020, respectively) in the allergic group. Thus, a fatty acid composition and lipid mediator levels indicative of increased release of ARA from PBMC membranes, increased inflammation as well as the resolving thereof, were associated with parent-reported allergy symptoms. This study used baseline data of an intervention study which was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01092377.

Topics: 12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Arachidonic Acid; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Rural Population; South Africa

Topics: 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; Animals; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fish Oils; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Neutrophils; Platelet Activating Factor; Rats

This study compared 48 hyperactive children with 49 age-and-sex-matched controls. Significantly more hyperactive children had auditory, visual, language, reading, and learning difficulties, and the birth weight of hyperactive children was significantly lower than that of controls (3,058 and 3,410 g, respectively; p less than 0.01). In addition, significantly more hyperactive children had frequent coughs and colds, polydypsia, polyuria, and a serious illness or accident in the past year than controls, but there was no increase in asthma, eczema, or other allergies. Serum essential fatty acid (EFA) levels were measured in 44 hyperactive subjects and 45 controls. The levels of docasahexaenoic, dihomogammalinolenic, and arachidonic acids were significantly lower in hyperactive children than controls (docosahexaenoic: 41.6 and 49.5 micrograms/ml serum respectively, p = 0.045; dihomogammolinolenic: 34.9 and 41.3 micrograms/ml serum, p = 0.007; arachidonic: 127.1 and 147.0 micrograms/ml serum, p = 0.027). These findings have possible therapeutic and diagnostic implications, but further research is needed to attempt to replicate these differences.

Topics: 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Common Cold; Cough; Developmental Disabilities; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Fatty Acids, Essential; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male