Comparing the effect of including omega-3 to treatment regimen in elderly patients with ulcerative colitis with placebo: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which reduces the quality of life and patients' productivity. People in different ages could be affected since its complications such as colon perforation and cancer are common. Oxidative stress is reported to create an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense systems which occurs in inflammatory tissues and predisposing malignant tumors. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 on inflammatory, antioxidant, and oxidative markers of patients with ulcerative colitis. Patients and Methods: Seventy elderly patients with ulcerative colitis referring to Rasoul-e-Akram hospital (Iran University of Medical Sciences) with mild or moderate phase of the disease were investigated. Patients were undergoing their protocol treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to the block randomization assignment, including 35 patients (routine + omega-3) or control (routine + placebo). Based on a researcher-made checklist, the severity of the disease, as well as the oxidant, antioxidant, and inflammatory factors of the patients were determined before and after 2 months of treatment. Finally, the changes in these factors were compared between groups. Results: Among the 70 participants, 35 were in the control and 35 in the intervention group. All subjects were present during the whole period of the study, so the attrition rate was 0%. No significant difference was observed between the mean of BMI (body mass index) as kg/m2, waist circumference (cm), systolic pressure (mm Hg), and diastolic pressure (mm Hg) in both groups before and after the intervention. The measure of optimal changes in serum levels of MDA (malondialdehyde oxidant), AGEs (advanced glycation end-products), oxidized LDL (oxidized low density lipoprotein), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and the improvement of antioxidant catalase copper markers were significantly higher in the intervention group, compared to the control one. Conclusion: Administration of omega-3 as an auxiliary component in the treatment of patients significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory and oxidative markers and a significant increase in antioxidant markers in the serum and improved blood pressure in patients with ulcerative colitis.