The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease. Allergies are intensely related to bronchial asthma and to other respiratory diseases such as chronic sinusitis, middle ear infections, and nasal polyps. Treatment can vary from inhalers to oral medications to drugs delivered in a nebulizer or breathing machine. Besides, dietary involvement was a significant tool to reduce the severity of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma. Randomly assigned, double blind, and placebo controlled 290 adults with mild to moderately persistent bronchial asthma concluded in this study, were subjected to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn either singly or in combination. Subjective symptom improvement, pulmonary function, and biochemical tests were carried out at the beginning of the study and at the end of each therapeutic phase. The study findings showed that nearly half of the cases were in age between 18 years to 40 years followed by 29.6 of the cases that fall in age range between 40 years and 60 years. It was clear that all the four supplements (ogema-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn, and combination) contributed more than placebo in reducing the severity of bronchial asthma. However, omega 3 fatty acids and combined supplement significantly contributed in symptomatic improvement (p < 0.05). There was a significant improvement of pulmonary function and sputum inflammatory markers with diet supplementation (p < 0.05). So, the subjects with mild and moderately persistent bronchial asthma may get benefit from their dietary supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids, Zinc and vitamin C. It is evident from this study that omega 3 fatty acids and combined supplementation significantly improved the severity of bronchial asthma.

Composition of Human Atheroma Collected from Coronary Arteries during Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Coronary arteries supply blood and nutrients to the heart. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) develops by narrowing of the arteries. Once the inner walls of the arteries are damaged, fatty deposits made of cells, connective tissue elements, lipids and debris decrease their lumens which block blood flow to distal tissues. This process is called arteriosclerosis. This study intends to detect the composition of human coronary atheroma collected from the arteries during bypass surgeries in Bangladesh. It shows that all lesions are present in the advanced types, namely, type 4, 5 and 6. Infrequently thrombotic materials and necrotic debris were found in type 6 plaque. The mean length of plaque was 3.36 ± 1.71 cm and mean weight was 0.13 ± 0.12 gm. Insufficient lipid was obtained from each atheroma. Few raised areas were lipid laden whereas most of the strands were fibrous. Biochemical assessment was formidable. The cholesterol composition of coronary plaque ranged between 0.20% - 9.83% with mean 3.06% ± 2.09% and total fatty acids ranged between 0.47% - 3.04% with mean 1.31% ± 0.63%. The most abundant fatty acid was oleic acid (unsaturated) closely followed by palmitic acid (saturated). The mean calcium content was 41,180.20 ± 34,918.59 ppm and ranged from 1148.00 - 140,311.00 ppm or, 0.115% - 14.031%. This study was undertaken to detect the composition of human coronary atheroma in Bangladesh which revealed that it depended upon the type of lesion.