promega and Lupus-Erythematosus--Systemic

Seventeen patients with moderately active SLE participated in a double-blind, crossover study on the effect of MaxEPA, using olive oil as the control substance. During the first 3 months, 8/17 on Max EPA but only 2/17 on the control substance clinically and serologically improved (p = 0.05), but at 6 months there was no difference. The beneficial effect (if any) of MaxEPA on the disease was short-lived.

Topics: Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Male; Middle Aged

The Mrl lpr/lpr (Mrl/l) mouse is a model for systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in humans. The diet of Mrl/l mice was supplemented with EPA (see Introduction) in menhaden oil or in the commerical fish oil MaxEPA. The survival of mice was not affected by the dietary manipulations. The addition of menhaden oil decreased the severity of the renal pathology. However, MaxEPA containing the same amount of eicosapentaenoic acid was considerably less effective. A diet deficient in polyunsaturated fatty acids did not ameliorate any manifestations of the disease. Anti-DNA antibody levels in serum were not influenced by the therapy. Myocardial abscesses and/or ulcerating valvular lesions were observed in about one third of the mice, irrespective of the diet given.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Drug Combinations; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Fish Oils; Kidney; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Lymph Nodes; Mice; Myocardium; Skin Ulcer