Effects of dietary supplementation with n－3 fatty acidson bronchial asthma associated with changes in lipids．－Comparison with n－6 fatty acids－

N-3 fatty acids have been reported to be effective for asthma. In the present study, the effects of perilla seed oil (n-3 fatty acids) on asthma were compared with the effects of corn oil (n-6 fatty acids) in terms of pulmonary function, lipometabolism and the generation of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) by leucocytes. A total of 28 asthmatic patients were randomly divided into two groups : Group A patients (15 subjects) consumed perilla seed oil-rich supplementation, while Group B patients (13 subjects) consumed corn oil-rich supplementation for 4 weeks. Generation of LTC4 by leucocytes, respiratory function and the serum levels of lipids were compared between the two groups. The generation of LTC4 by leucocytes decreased significantly in Group A subjects following perilla seed oil-rich supplementation for 2(P < 0.05) and 4 weeks(P < 0.01). A significant difference in the generation of LTC4 was observed between the two groups after different dietary supplementations for 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Significantly increased values for PEF (P < 0.01), FVC (P < 0.05) and FEV1.0 (P < 0.05) were found in Group A subjects following perilla seed oil supplementation for 4 weeks, compared with the initial value prior to supplementation. A significant decrease in the serum level of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and phospholipid was detected in Group A subjects following perilla seed oil supplementation for 4 weeks. The present results suggest that peril la seed oil-rich supplementation is effective in the treatment of asthma in terms of its ability to suppress LTC4 generat ion by leucocytes, and in inducing an improvement in pulmonary function associated with changes in the serum level of lipids.

n－3系脂肪酸は喘息に有効であることが報告されている。今回、エゴマ油（n－3系脂肪酸）の喘息に対する効果を呼吸機能、イコトリエンC4（LTC4）産生能の観点から、コーン油（n－6系脂肪酸）のそれと比較した。28例の喘息患者を無作為に2群に分け、A群（15例） はエゴマ油食を、B群（13例）はコーン油食をそれぞれ4週間摂取した。白血球LTC4産生能、呼吸機能、血清脂質を2群間で比較した。白血球LTC4産生能はエゴマ抽食を摂取したA群で2週後（P < 0．05）、4過後（P < 0．01）に有意に低下した。食事摂取4過後に岳群間でLTC4産生能に有意差が認められた（P < 0．05）。エゴマ油食を4過摂取したA群ではピークフロー（P < 0．05）、肺活量（P < 0.01）、1秒量（P < 0．05）が食事摂取前に比し、有意に増加した。またA群ではエゴマ坤食摂取4週後に血清総コレステロール値、LDL－コレステロール値、リン脂質の有意な低下がみられた。こ れらの結果より、エゴマ油食は白血球LTC4産生能を抑制することにより、呼吸機能を改善し、血清脂質の変化と関連して、喘息の治療に有効であることが示唆された。