Abstract
N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are abundant in fish oil, have received increasing attention in various clinical fields. The actions of n-3 PUFAs are performed as components of cell membranes or through the production of eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotriens (LTs). In pediatric practice, n-3 PUFAs participate in the development of visual and brain functions in infants and in the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic functions. This paper reports the results of our clinical and animal studies concerning the effects of n-3 PUFAs on inflammatory bowel diseases and allergic diseases.
