Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Contemp Clin Trials. 2013 Jan 6;34(2):326–335. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2012.12.009

Table 1.

Asthma Trials involving omega-3 fatty acids

Study age Size (n) Daily EPA/DHA dose (g)1 Control agent duration Effect seen
Hodge, 1998 8–12 39 .72/.036 Safflower/Sunflower 6 months No
Broughton, 1997 19–25 19 -- -- 1 month Reduced AHR
Arm, 1988 15–42 25 3.2/2.2 Olive oil 10 weeks Reduced inflammation
Arm, 1989 15–42 17 3.2/2.2 Olive oil 10 weeks Lung function
Thien, 1993 15–65 25 3.2/2.2 Olive oil 6 months No
Surette, 2003 18–56 43 .5–.75/-- -- 4 weeks Reduced LT production
Emelyanov, 2002 18–56 23 Combined Olive oil 8 weeks Reduced symptoms
Mickleborough, 2006 Mean = 23 16 3.2/2.0 Olive oil 3 weeks Lung function

AHR – airway hyperresponsiveness, LT – leukotriene.

1

Institute of Medicine’s adequate intake for omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is 1.1 and 1.6 grams/day for females and males, respectively (IOM report, 2002). A typical serving of Salmon contains just less than 1 gram of EPA + DHA.