Fish oil (medical use)

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Fish oil
Clinical data
Trade names Omegaven
Other namesFish oil triglycerides
AHFS/Drugs.com Professional Drug Facts
License data
Pregnancy
category
Dependence
liability
Intravenous
Drug class Intravenous nutritional products
ATC code
  • None
Legal status
Legal status

Fish oil , sold under the brand name Omegaven, is a fatty acid emulsion. [2] It is used for total parenteral nutrition (feeding directly into a venous catheter), e.g. in short bowel syndrome. [2] It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. [2]

Contents

Fish oil triglycerides was approved for use in the United States in July 2018, [3] and is available to people on the US market by prescription effective November 2018. [4]

In 2021, it was the 283rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 700,000 prescriptions. [5] [6]

Research

It has gained popularity in children in preference to the more commonly used intralipid after case reports that it reduced the risk of liver damage. [7]

A 2007, study indicated that the use of Omegaven may be an appropriate intervention strategy for newborns with a very low birth weight, gastroschisis, and intestinal atresia. [8]

A clinical trial exploring the use of fish oil as an adjunct to parenteral nutrition in surgical intensive care units at National Taiwan University Hospital completed in March 2007. [9]

Although the use of fish oil triglycerides in children in the United States is experimental, the use of it in adults in Europe is less controversial. [10] In European studies, fish oil triglycerides have been associated with a reduction in psoriasis, when contrasted to administration of omega-6 fatty acid Lipoven. [11] Fish oil triglycerides have also been associated with reduced mortality and antibiotic use during hospital stays. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fat</span> Esters of fatty acid or triglycerides

In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.

Omega−3 fatty acids, also called Omega−3 oils, ω−3 fatty acids or n−3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) characterized by the presence of a double bond, three atoms away from the terminal methyl group in their chemical structure. They are widely distributed in nature, being important constituents of animal lipid metabolism, and they play an important role in the human diet and in human physiology. The three types of omega−3 fatty acids involved in human physiology are α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA can be found in plants, while DHA and EPA are found in algae and fish. Marine algae and phytoplankton are primary sources of omega−3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA accumulate in fish that eat these algae. Common sources of plant oils containing ALA include walnuts, edible seeds, and flaxseeds as well as hempseed oil, while sources of EPA and DHA include fish and fish oils, and algae oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niacin</span> Organic compound and a form of vitamin B3

Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is an organic compound and a vitamer of vitamin B3, an essential human nutrient. It is produced by plants and animals from the amino acid tryptophan. Niacin is obtained in the diet from a variety of whole and processed foods, with highest contents in fortified packaged foods, meat, poultry, red fish such as tuna and salmon, lesser amounts in nuts, legumes and seeds. Niacin as a dietary supplement is used to treat pellagra, a disease caused by niacin deficiency. Signs and symptoms of pellagra include skin and mouth lesions, anemia, headaches, and tiredness. Many countries mandate its addition to wheat flour or other food grains, thereby reducing the risk of pellagra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dietary fiber</span> Portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely digested

Dietary fiber or roughage is the portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely broken down by human digestive enzymes. Dietary fibers are diverse in chemical composition, and can be grouped generally by their solubility, viscosity, and fermentability, which affect how fibers are processed in the body. Dietary fiber has two main components: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, which are components of plant-based foods, such as legumes, whole grains and cereals, vegetables, fruits, and nuts or seeds. A diet high in regular fiber consumption is generally associated with supporting health and lowering the risk of several diseases. Dietary fiber consists of non-starch polysaccharides and other plant components such as cellulose, resistant starch, resistant dextrins, inulin, lignins, chitins, pectins, beta-glucans, and oligosaccharides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dietary supplement</span> Product providing additional nutrients

A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources, or that are synthetic. The classes of nutrient compounds in supplements include vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids. Dietary supplements can also contain substances that have not been confirmed as being essential to life, and so are not nutrients per se, but are marketed as having a beneficial biological effect, such as plant pigments or polyphenols. Animals can also be a source of supplement ingredients, such as collagen from chickens or fish for example. These are also sold individually and in combination, and may be combined with nutrient ingredients. The European Commission has also established harmonized rules to help insure that food supplements are safe and appropriately labeled.

Lipid-lowering agents, also sometimes referred to as hypolipidemic agents, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or antihyperlipidemic agents are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals that are used to lower the level of lipids and lipoproteins such as cholesterol, in the blood (hyperlipidemia). The American Heart Association recommends the descriptor 'lipid lowering agent' be used for this class of drugs rather than the term 'hypolipidemic'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cod liver oil</span> Dietary supplement derived from liver of cod fish

Cod liver oil is a dietary supplement derived from liver of cod fish (Gadidae). As with most fish oils, it contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and also vitamin A and vitamin D. Historically, it was given to children because vitamin D had been shown to prevent rickets, a consequence of vitamin D deficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parenteral nutrition</span> Intravenous feeding

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is the feeding of nutritional products to a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion. The products are made by pharmaceutical compounding entities or standard pharmaceutical companies. The person receives a nutritional mix according to a formula including glucose, salts, amino acids, lipids and vitamins and dietary minerals. It is called total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or total nutrient admixture (TNA) when no significant nutrition is obtained by other routes, and partial parenteral nutrition (PPN) when nutrition is also partially enteric. It is called peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) when administered through vein access in a limb rather than through a central vein as central venous nutrition (CVN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypertriglyceridemia</span> High triglyceride blood levels

Hypertriglyceridemia is the presence of high amounts of triglycerides in the blood. Triglycerides are the most abundant fatty molecule in most organisms. Hypertriglyceridemia occurs in various physiologic conditions and in various diseases, and high triglyceride levels are associated with atherosclerosis, even in the absence of hypercholesterolemia and predispose to cardiovascular disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemfibrozil</span> Medication

Gemfibrozil, sold under the brand name Lopid among others, is a medication used to treat abnormal blood lipid levels. It is generally less preferred than statins. Use is recommended together with dietary changes and exercise. It is unclear if it changes the risk of heart disease. It is taken by mouth.

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), precursors of certain eicosanoids that are known to reduce inflammation in the body and improve hypertriglyceridemia. There has been a great deal of controversy in the 21st century about the role of fish oil in cardiovascular disease, with recent meta-analyses reaching different conclusions about its potential impact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short bowel syndrome</span> Medical condition

Short bowel syndrome is a rare malabsorption disorder caused by a lack of functional small intestine. The primary symptom is diarrhea, which can result in dehydration, malnutrition, and weight loss. Other symptoms may include bloating, heartburn, feeling tired, lactose intolerance, and foul-smelling stool. Complications can include anemia and kidney stones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eicosapentaenoic acid</span> Chemical compound

Eicosapentaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 20:5(n-3). It also has the trivial name timnodonic acid. In chemical structure, EPA is a carboxylic acid with a 20-carbon chain and five cis double bonds; the first double bond is located at the third carbon from the omega end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Docosahexaenoic acid</span> Chemical compound

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina. In physiological literature, it is given the name 22:6(n-3). It can be synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid or obtained directly from maternal milk, fatty fish, fish oil, or algae oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fenofibrate</span> Drug of the fibrate class, mainly used to reduce cholesterol levels

Fenofibrate, is an oral medication of the fibrate class used to treat abnormal blood lipid levels. It is less commonly used compared than statins because it treats a different type of cholesterol abnormality to statins. While statins have strong evidence for reducing heart disease and death, there is evidence to suggest that fenofibrate also reduces the risk of heart disease and death. However, this seems only to apply to specific populations of people with elevated triglyceride levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Its use is recommended together with dietary changes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medium-chain triglyceride</span> Medium-chain fatty acids

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are triglycerides with two or three fatty acids having an aliphatic tail of 6–12 carbon atoms, i.e. medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Rich food sources for commercial extraction of MCTs include palm kernel oil and coconut oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omega-3 acid ethyl esters</span>

Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are a mixture of ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid and ethyl docosahexaenoic acid, which are ethyl esters of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil. Together with dietary changes, they are used to treat high blood triglycerides which may reduce the risk of pancreatitis. They are generally less preferred than statins, and use is not recommended by NHS Scotland as the evidence does not support a decreased risk of heart disease. Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are taken by mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid</span> Medication

Ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid, sold under the brand name Vascepa among others, is a medication used to treat dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia. It is used in combination with changes in diet in adults with hypertriglyceridemia ≥ 150 mg/dL. Further, it is often required to be used with a statin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axona</span> Chemical compound

Axona was previously marketed as a medical food for the clinical dietary management of the impairment of metabolic processes associated with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It is a proprietary formulation of fractionated palm kernel oil, a medium-chain triglyceride. Cericin, the company that makes Axona, states that during digestion, caprylic triglyceride is broken down into ketones, which provide an alternative energy source for the brain. Its use is based on the idea that the brain's ability to use its normal energy source, glucose, is impaired in Alzheimer's disease. Axona was first sold in March 2009.

Omega-3 carboxylic acids (Epanova) is a formerly marketed yet still not an Food And Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription medication–since taken off market by the manufacturer–used alongside a low fat and low cholesterol diet that lowers high triglyceride (fat) levels in adults with very high levels. This was the third class of fish oil-based drug, after omega-3 acid ethyl esters and ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid (Vascepa), to be approved for use as a drug. The first approval by US Food and Drug Administration was granted 05 May 2014. These fish oil drugs are similar to fish oil dietary supplements, but the ingredients are better controlled and have been tested in clinical trials. Specifically, Epanova contained at least 850 mg omega-3-acid ethyl esters per 1 g capsule.

References

  1. "Fat emulsion Use During Pregnancy". Drugs.com. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Omegaven- fish oil injection, emulsion". DailyMed. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  3. "Drug Approval Package: Omegaven (fish oil triglycerides)". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 24 August 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  4. Research, Center for Drug Evaluation and. "Investigational New Drug (IND) Application - How to request Omegaven for Expanded Access Use". www.fda.gov. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  5. "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. "Fish Oil - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. Gura KM, Duggan CP, Collier SB, et al. (2006). "Reversal of parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease in two infants with short bowel syndrome using parenteral fish oil: implications for future management". Pediatrics. 118 (1): e197–201. doi:10.1542/peds.2005-2662. PMID   16818533. S2CID   46567040.
  8. Christensen RD, Henry E, Wiedmeier SE, Burnett J, Lambert DK (2007). "Identifying patients, on the first day of life, at high-risk of developing parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease". Journal of Perinatology. 27 (5): 284–90. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211686. PMID   17344923. S2CID   12613845.
  9. Clinical trial number NCT00172198 for "Omegaven (w-3 Fish Oil) Supplemented Parenteral Nutrition in Subjects of SICU." at ClinicalTrials.gov
  10. A Doctor's Push For Drug Pits Him Against Its Maker at The Wall Street Journal
  11. Mayser P, Grimm H, Grimminger F (2002). "n-3 fatty acids in psoriasis". Br. J. Nutr. 87. Suppl 1: S77–82. doi: 10.1079/bjn2001459 . PMID   11895157.
  12. Heller AR, Rössler S, Litz RJ, et al. (2006). "Omega-3 fatty acids improve the diagnosis-related clinical outcome". Crit. Care Med. 34 (4): 972–9. doi:10.1097/01.CCM.0000206309.83570.45. PMID   16484909. S2CID   32537029.