Eicosapentaenoic acid decreases inflammation and improves glucose homeostasis in patients with burns: a randomized clinical trial.

Burn is accompanied by metabolic changes. The effects of fish oil on inflammatory pathways and glucose homeostasis have been reported in the previous studies. Various forms of omega-3 fatty acids affect differently the metabolic pathways. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of fish oil containing 500 mg eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) on inflammatory markers and glucose homeostasis in patients with non-severe burns. In this prospective double-blinded parallel-design randomized clinical trial, twenty-four patients with non-severe burns covering lower than 20% of total body surface area were divided into the fish oil (1.5 gr/d EPA and 600 mg/d DHA) or controls (1.5 gr/d corn oil and 600 mg/d DHA) for three weeks. C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fasting blood sugar (FBS), albumin, pre-albumin (PAB), transferrin, and insulin concentration were measured at baseline and end. The homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was computed. The duration of hospital stay was assessed as the secondary outcome. The reduction in serum ESR and CRP levels was significantly higher in the fish oil group than the controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, serum fasting insulin significantly decreased in the fish oil group (p < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity significantly improved in the fish oil compared to the controls (p = 0.001). The duration of hospital stay showed no significant difference between the two groups. The most enormous clinically significant effect was observed on serum levels of FBS and insulin (Cohen's d = 2.7 and 1.4), respectively. Fish oil supplements containing 500 mg EPA improved glucose homeostasis and decreased inflammation in patients with non-severe burns. Results are not generalizable due to the small sample size. More clinical trials are needed to achieve conclusive.