Patent ID: 8247449

Claim:
A method of treating asthma in a mammalian subject in need of such treatment by administering to said subject an effective amount of a composition in unit dosage form for delivery of a daily dose of said composition, said composition consisting essentially of: (i) an effective amount of γ-linolenic acid (GLA) for increasing dihomogammalinolenic acid (DGLA) levels in the inflammatory cells of said mammalian subject, thereby inhibiting the metabolism of arachidonic acid; (ii) an effective amount of a Δ 5 desaturase inhibitor for inhibiting accumulation of arachidonic acid in the serum of said mammalian subject; and, optionally, (iii) an effective amount of a competitive inhibitor of arachidonic acid metabolism, wherein the Δ 5 desaturase inhibitor and the competitive inhibitor are each stearidonic acid (SDA).