The impact of a medical food containing gammalinolenic and eicosapentaenoic acids on asthma management and the quality of life of adult asthma patients

ABSTRACTBackground: Leukotriene synthesis inhibitors and receptor antagonists are efficacious for the treatment of asthma. Diets containing the fatty acids gammalinolenic acid (GLA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) decrease leukotriene synthesis; however, their impact on asthma management and quality of life (QOL) has not been evaluated in asthmatic subjects.Objective: To evaluate asthma management and the QOL of asthmatic adult subjects consuming a medical food emulsion containing GLA and EPA.Research design and methods: Trial 1 was a random­ized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial in atopic subjects with mild-to-moderate asthma (n = 35 evaluable) consuming a low dose (0.75 g GLA + 0.5 g EPA), high dose (1.13 g GLA + 0.75 g EPA) or placebo emulsion daily. Subjects were questioned about their asthma management using a non-validated questionnaire after 2 and 4 weeks. Blood leuko­trienes were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Trial 2 was an open-label study (n = 65 eval...