Changes in the fatty acid composition of blood cell membranes in children with inflammatory diseases

Abstract

Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte and leukocyte membranes has been studied in children (with normal body mass and obesity) with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and children with bronchial asthma in comparison with basically healthy children. Fifty seven children aged from 7 to 14 years were examined: 13 with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (IDGIT) (eosophagitis, gastroduodenitis, stomach ulcer), 25 with obesity stages (I-III) complicated by IDGIT, 9 with bronchial asthma and 10 basically healthy children. The study revealed that both IDGIT and bronchial asthma caused significant and similar changes in fatty acid composition of cell membranes. These included accumulation of ω3-eicosapentacnoic acid (EPA) and the decrease of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); this phenomenon observed in both erythrocyte and leukocyte membranes suggests a common feature of the detected changes in fatty acid composition of cell membranes in inflammation. There was a significant decrease in the level of membrane ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), first of all arachidonic acid and total ω6 PUFA. Consequently, EPA accumulation in membranes may be a compensatory response to low dietary arachidonic acid supply and/or its increased synthesis of pro-inflammatory cicosanoids (prostaglandins, leukotriens, thromboxans) during inflammatory process.