The benefits of antioxidants or DHA/EPA supplementation for CF , although observed in some studies , are not consistent enough to recommend routine use of these supplements .
Antioxidant micronutrients and essential fatty acids supplementation intake appears to have a protective effect in some diseases such as cardiovascular disease , cancer , and asthma .
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review to evaluate the effects of these nutrients on nutritional and clinical outcomes of patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF ) .
This is a systematic review of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) in CF .
Effects of β-carotene supplementation for six months on clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with cystic fibrosis
BACKGROUND Patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF ) have significantly decreased plasma concentrations of nutrient antioxidant vitamins , especially of β-carotene , which is thought to result from fat malabsorption and chronic pulmonary inflammation . The aim of this double blind , placebo controlled study was to investigate the effect of oral β-carotene supplementation for six months on clinical parameters . METHODS Twenty four patients with CF were r and omised to receive β-carotene 1 mg/kg/day ( maximum 50 mg/day ) for three months ( high dose supplementation ) and 10 mg/day for a further three months ( low dose supplementation ) or placebo . At monthly follow up visits the plasma β-carotene concentration , total antioxidant capacity , malondialdehyde ( MDA ) as a marker of lipid peroxidation , and clinical parameters ( Shwachmann-Kulczycki score , body mass index ( BMI ) , height , and lung function ( FEV1 ) ) were assessed . The number of pulmonary exacerbations requiring antibiotic treatment ( in days ) three months before and during the study were evaluated . RESULTS The plasma concentration of β-carotene increased significantly to the normal range during the three months of high dose supplementation ( baseline 0.08 ( 0.04 ) μmol/l to 0.56 ( 0.38 ) μmol/l ; p<0.001 ) but decreased to 0.32 ( 0.19 ) μmol/l in the period of low dose supplementation . Initially raised plasma levels of MDA fell to normal levels and the total antioxidant capacity showed a non-significant trend towards improvement during high dose supplementation . Antibiotic treatment decreased significantly in the supplementation group from 14.5 ( 14.9 ) days/patient during the three months before the study to 9.8 ( 10.3 ) days/patient during high dose supplementation ( p=0.0368 ) and to 10.5 ( 9.9 ) days/patient during low dose supplementation , but increased in the placebo group . The Shwachmann-Kulczycki score , lung function , and BMI did not show any changes in either of the treatment groups . No adverse events were observed during the study period . CONCLUSION Oral β-carotene supplementation in a dose of 1 mg/kg/day only was effective in normalising the plasma concentration of β-carotene and result ed in a decrease in pulmonary exacerbations . These data suggest that patients with CF may benefit clinical ly from supplementation with β-carotene and further studies are warranted
The benefits of antioxidants or DHA/EPA supplementation for CF , although observed in some studies , are not consistent enough to recommend routine use of these supplements .
Antioxidant micronutrients and essential fatty acids supplementation intake appears to have a protective effect in some diseases such as cardiovascular disease , cancer , and asthma .
The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review to evaluate the effects of these nutrients on nutritional and clinical outcomes of patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF ) .
This is a systematic review of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) in CF .