The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 150, Issue 5 , Pages 479-484, May 2007

Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on Fatty Acid Status, Coordination, and Fine Motor Skills in Children with Phenylketonuria

  • Skadi Beblo, MD

      Affiliations

    • Current address for S.B.: Dept. of Pediatrics, Univ. of Leipzig, Oststr 21-25, 04317 Leipzig, Germany.
    • S.B. received a scholarship from the University of Munich (3. Hochschulsonderprogramm, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany).
    • ,
  • Hannes Reinhardt, BSc
    • ,
  • Hans Demmelmair, PhD
    • ,
  • Ania C. Muntau, MD
    • ,
  • Berthold Koletzko, MD

      Affiliations

    • B.K. is the recipient of a Freedom to Discover Grant of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, New York, New York.
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Dr Berthold Koletzko, Professor of Paediatrics, Div. Metabolic Diseases and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Lindwurmstr. 4, D-80337 Muenchen, Germany.

Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.

Received 19 April 2006; received in revised form 16 September 2006; accepted 1 December 2006.

Objective

To investigate effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) on motor skills in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU).

Study design

Thirty-six patients with PKU (1-11 years of age, good metabolic control: plasma phenylalanine ≤360 μmol/L for ≥6 months). We determined plasma phospholipid fatty acids, and in patients >4 years of age (N = 24) the motometric Rostock-Oseretzky Scale (ROS), before and after supplementation with fish oil for 3 months (15 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]/kg body weight daily). ROS was also assessd in 22 age-matched controls.

Results

Patients had low n-3 LC-PUFA in plasma phospholipids (DHA, 2.37 ± 0.10%; eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], 0.4 ± 0.03%) and poorer ROS performance than controls (motor development index [MQ] 107 ± 3 vs 117 ± 3, P = .010). Supplementation increased phospholipid n-3 LC-PUFA (DHA 7.05 ± 0.24%; EPA 3.31 ± 0.19%; P < .001), decreased n-6 LC-PUFA (arachidonic acid, 9.26 ± 0.23% vs 6.76 ± 0.16%; P < .001) and improved ROS (MQ 115 ± 3.54, P = .011, paired t test). ROS was unchanged in 11 retested controls (MQ 115 ± 5.16, P = NS, paired t test multivariate analysis of variance [MANOVA] for time by group, P = .027). Patients tolerated fish oil well. Plasma phenylalanine remained unchanged.

Conclusion

In patients with PKU, fish oil supplementation enhances n-3 LC-PUFA levels and improves motor skills.

Abbreviations: ANOVA, Analysis of variance, DHA, Docosahexaenoic acid, EPA, Eicosapentaenoic acid, LC-PUFA, Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, MANOVA, Multivariate analysis of variance, MQ, Motor development index, PKU, Phenylketonuria, ROS, Rostock-Oseretzky Scale

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 Supported in part by Scientific Hospital Supplies, Heilbronn, Germany, and the Child Health Foundation, Munich, Germany. Fish oil capsules were provided by Omega-Pharma, Berlin, Germany.

PII: S0022-3476(06)01174-7

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2006.12.011

Refers to article:

  • Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Older Children

    William C. Heird
    The Journal of Pediatrics May 2007 (Vol. 150, Issue 5, Pages 457-459)

The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 150, Issue 5 , Pages 479-484, May 2007

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