Phosphoethanolamine and omega-3 in patients with asthma

The effect of omega-3 (n-3) in asthma has been inconclusive. One explanation for it may be the low incorporation of these fatty acids in clinical studies. Phosphoethanolamine (PEtn) can increase the synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine, which can, in turn, increase the incorporation of n-3 in cell membranes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of synthetic PEtn in patients with asthma who are receiving n-3. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out over a two month period by using spirometry, the Asthma Control Test questionnaire (ACT) and medicine intake. Forty-one patients with asthma were studied. Twenty-one patients received n-3 daily (1.080 mg of EPA, 720 mg of DHA) and 800 mg of PEtn (PEtn group), and twenty patients received the same doses of n-3 and placebo (control group). All patients continued receiving their conventional treatment for asthma. The hospital ethics committee approved the study. Five patients of each group required systemic corticosteroids, being the total consumption, smaller in the PEtn group (127.4 mg of prednisone/patient versus 416.0 mg of prednisone/patient in the control group, p-value = 0.0269). There were no significant differences in the changing of ATC and FEV1, as well as in the intake of formoterol or budesonide between the groups. In this study, patients who received phosphoethanolamine and omega-3 needed a smaller dose of systemic corticosteroid for asthma control than patients who only received omega-3. However, as the trial was conducted on a small scale, more studies are necessary