Objective: Clinical trial research have provided evidence that omega-3 may have larger potential benefits for treating cystic fibrosis (CF). This study's objective was to assess the impact of three supplementation on pediatric CF patients.
Methods: Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched from commencement until July 20, 2022 using standard keywords to identify all randomized controlled studies (RCTs) examining the effects of omega-3 supplementation on young patients with CF. The eligible studies were subjected to a random-effects model meta-analysis.
Results: A meta-analysis of 12 the eligible studies was performed. Findings of the study showed that omega-3 supplementation significantly increased the levels of docosahexaenoic acid (weighted mean [WMD]: 2.06%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29, 2.82, p < 0.001) and eicosapentaenoic acid (WMD: 0.32%, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.48, p < 0.001) as well as decreased arachidonic acid (WMD: -0.78%, 95% CI: -1.50, -0.05, p = 0.035) and C-receptive protein (CRP) (WMD: -3.76 mg/L, 95% CI: -7.42, -0.10, p = 0.044) especially when used in higher doses and for a longer period of time compared to the control group. However, no significant effect was observed on other factors including forced expiratory volume 1, forced vital capacity as well as anthropometric parameters. In addition, high heterogeneity was reported for all fatty acids, but heterogeneity was low and nonsignificant for other variables.
Conclusion: The finding showed that in pediatric patients with CF, omega-3 supplementation showed benefits only in plasma fatty acid profile and serum CRP.
Keywords: FEV; cystic fibrosis; inflammation; meta-analysis; omega-3 supplementation; pediatrics.
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