Relationship of Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA with the inflammatory biomarker hs-CRP in children with sickle cell anemia

Background: Inflammation and vaso-occlusion play key roles in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) pathophysiology. Lipoxygenase products of the omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs), docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids, are potent anti-inflammatory mediators modulating pain. O3FAs decrease episodes of vaso-occlusion in SCD. Methods: We assessed erythrocyte fatty acid composition in two major cell membrane phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, in children with SCD HbSS-disease (n = 38) and age/race-matched HbAA-controls (n = 18). Ratio of pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid (AA) to anti-inflammatory DHA and EPA (FA-Ratio), and its relationship to hs-CRP were evaluated. Results: FA-Ratios were increased in both phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in HbSS compared to controls. Correlations were noted in HbSS subjects between hs-CRP and FA-Ratios (p = 0.011). FA-Ratios increased with age (p = 0.0007) due to an increase in pro-inflammatory AA with a concomitant decrease in anti-inflammatory DHA. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate relative deficiencies in HbSS of the anti-inflammatory precursor fatty acids DHA and EPA, which correlates positively with hs-CRP.