Twenty-eight patients (mean age, 56 years) with moderately severe acute pancreatitis were randomly assigned to receive a standard enteral formula (controls) or a special formula supplemented with 3.3 g/day of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil for 5-7 days. Compared with controls, patients receiving fish oil had a significantly shorter mean length of hospital stay (13.1 vs. 19.3 days; p < 0.05) and of jejunal feeding (10.6 vs. 17.6 days; p < 0.05). Complications developed in 42% of treated patients and 64% of control patients (difference not significant).

Comment: These results indicate that the use of an enteral formula enriched with fish oil significantly reduced the length of hospital stay and the time required for jejunal feeding in patients with acute pancreatitis. Omega-3 fatty acids presumably work by modulating eicosanoid synthesis, thereby reducing the inflammatory response.

Lasztity N, et al. Effect of enterally administered n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in acute pancreatitis - a prospective randomized clinical trial. Clin Nutr 2005;24:198-205.