The Effects of Parenteral Fish Oil Supplemented Nutrition on The Levels of DHA, EPA, Cytokines, and Wound Healing in Rats with Full-Thickness Burn Injury

INTRODUCTION: The present study aimed to examine the impact of fish oil supplementation on the concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), cytokines (interleukin-10 and -12), and wound healing in rats with full-thickness burn injury (FTBI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 350 to 400 grams subjected to FTBI were randomized into either the experimental group (n=15), which received a standard diet supplemented with fish oil intravenously (which provided 400 mg/kg/d of DHA and 275 mg/kg/d of EPA) for five days, or the control group (n=15), which received a standard diet only. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, rats in the experimental group had a greater increase in mean blood DHA (P=0.002) and EPA (P<0.001) levels from baseline to day 21; a higher increase of mean IL-10 from baseline to day 10 (P=0.018); and a greater decrease in mean IL-12 from baseline to day 10 (P=0.04). When the burn wound tissues were examined, the experimental group showed greater blood vessel growth and a reduced presence of neutrophils compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: In summary, giving fish oil through injection raised the levels of DHA and EPA in the blood, reduced the activity of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12, and increased the activity of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which helps improve the healing of wounds in rats with FTBI.