Effect of a fish oil structured lipid-based diet on prostaglandin release from mononuclear cells in cancer patients after surgery.

Background: The authors compared the effect on eicosanoid production (prostaglandin E2 [PGE2], 6-keto PGF1α, and thromboxane B2) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of feeding an enteral diet containing a fish oil/mediumchain triglyceride structured lipid (FOSL-HN) vs an isonitrogenous, isocaloric formula (O-HN) in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery for upper gastrointestinal malignancies. A previous study, which used the same formulas and experimental design, suggested improved renal and liver function as well as a reduced number of gastrointestinal and infectious complications with the use of fish oil structured lipids. This study sought to investigate the potential mechanism for these effects by assessing eicosanoid production from PBMC with the two diets. Methods: This prospective, blinded, randomized trial was conducted in 20 patients who were jejunally fed either FOSL-HN or O-HN for 7 days. Serum chemistries, hematology, urinalysis, gastrointestinal complications, liver and renal...