Abstract
The metabolism of fatty acid (FA) in Crohn disease (CD) have been insufficiently explored. Therefore, we sought to explore the plasma profiles of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated (PUFA) in newly diagnosed untreated active CD.
We included 26 consecutive CD pediatric patients (<19 years) and 16 healthy controls (CON) into the study. The CD patients were characterized according to inflammatory markers, dietary histories, and the Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index (PCDAI).
The profiles of plasma FAs in plasma lipid classes were analyzed by gas chromatography with FID detection. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin (all p < 0.001) were significantly higher in CD vs.
CON. Most changes were observed in plasma phospholipids (PL), such as higher content of n-3 and changes in n-6 long chain PUFA in CD group.
The CD group had lower ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA in PL (p < 0.001) and triacylglycerols (p < 0.01). Correlations of FAs content in plasma PL with disease activity scores of CD were also observed, positive for sum of MUFA as well as oleic acid (18:1n-9) (both p < 0.01).
The metabolism of PUFA is significantly altered even in treatment-naive newly diagnosed active pediatric CD, and content of major FAs in PL correlated with disease activity and inflammatory markers, thus contributing to the still unclear early disease pathogenesis.