Impact of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in children with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia

Background Though hydroxyurea (HU) is one of the most widely used FDA approved drug in sickle cell disease (SCD), it is associated with certain side effects. Therefore, safer and effective alternatives need to be tried out. Earlier researchers have shown abnormalities in the blood cell fatty acid composition, in patients with SCD. Omega-3 fatty acids being a safer nutritional supplement, possessing anti-adhesion, anti-aggregatory, and anti-depressive properties could be tried out. Objective To explore the impact of omega-3 fatty acids eicosa-pentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosa-hexaenoic acid (DHA) in reducing disease severity in children with SCD, in Saudi Arabia through a pilot interventional study. Methods Forty-three SCD patients, aged between 5 and 16 years, were supplemented omega-3 fatty acids for a period of six months. Their clinical complications and hematological markers were studied, pre and post supplementation. Results and conclusion Omega-3 supplementation resulted in overall favorable changes in the cell membrane and was found effective in reducing the number of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) as well as complications accompanying SCD.