FATTY-ACID AND PROSTAGLANDIN METABOLISM IN CHILDREN WITH DIABETES-MELLITUS .2. THE EFFECT OF EVENING PRIMROSE OIL SUPPLEMENTATION ON SERUM FATTY-ACID AND PLASMA PROSTAGLANDIN LEVELS

Our previous study demonstrated that levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid in serum total lipids decreased in association with increased plasma levels of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and F2-alpha (PGF2-alpha) in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In this study, 11 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the effect of dietary supplementation with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on serum essential fatty acid and plasma PGE2 and PGF2-alpha levels. GLA was given as the seed oil from the evening primrose (EPO) and all patients received either EPO capsules (containing 45 mg of GLA and 360 mg of linoleic acid) or indistinguishable placebo capsules for 8 months. Initially patients took 2 capsules daily for 4 months then 4 capsules daily for a further 4 months. All patients were assessed at the start of the study, after 4 months and at the end of the study, by measuring serum essential fatty acid and plasma PGE2 and PGF2-alpha levels. After administration of 4 capsules daily the DGLA levels increased and PGE2 levels decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in the EPO compared with the placebo group. Neither fatty acid nor PGE2 and PGF2-alpha levels were altered by administration of 2 EPO capsules daily. This suggests that the altered essential fatty acid and PG metabolism in diabetes may be reversed by direct GLA supplementation.