Transplant Trial Watch

Liver-protecting effects of omega-3 fish oil lipid emulsion in liver transplantation.

Zhu X, Wu Y, et al.

World Journal of Gastroenterology 2012; 18(42):6141-6147.


Aims
To investigate the liver-protecting effect of parenteral nutrition (PN) support with omega-3 fatty acids.

Interventions
PN without supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in addition to routine treatment versus PN supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids in addition to routine treatment.

Participants
66 patients with the diagnosis of end-stage liver disease or hepatic cellular carcinoma.

Outcomes
Clinical outcomes included posttransplant mechanical ventilation, total hospital stay, infectious morbidities (pneumonia, intra-abdominal abscess, central line sepsis, wound infection, and urinary tract infection), acute and chronic rejection, mortality intensive care unit mortality, hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, and survival at one year post-transplant), liver function assessment (serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase lactate dehydrogenase and prothrombin time).

Follow-up
12 months

CET Conclusions
After liver transplantation parenteral nutrition supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids for 7 days does seem to improve liver function and perhaps reduces subsequent infections and the post transplant hospital stay compared to standard parenteral nutrition.

Jadad score
2

Data analysis
Per protocol analysis

Allocation concealment
No

Trial registration
Not reported

Funding source
Not reported