Abstract
Introduction: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which reduces the quality of life and patients’
productivity. People in different ages could be affected since its complications such as colon perforation and
cancer are common. Oxidative stress is reported to create an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS)
and antioxidant defense systems which occurs in inflammatory tissues and predisposing malignant tumors.
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 on inflammatory, antioxidant, and oxidative markers of
patients with ulcerative colitis.
Patients and Methods: Seventy elderly patients with ulcerative colitis referring to Rasoul-e-Akram hospital (Iran
University of Medical Sciences) with mild or moderate phase of the disease were investigated. Patients were
undergoing their protocol treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to the block randomization assignment,
including 35 patients (routine + omega-3) or control (routine + placebo). Based on a researcher-made checklist,
the severity of the disease, as well as the oxidant, antioxidant, and inflammatory factors of the patients were
determined before and after 2 months of treatment. Finally, the changes in these factors were compared between
groups.
Results: Among the 70 participants, 35 were in the control and 35 in the intervention group. All subjects were
present during the whole period of the study, so the attrition rate was 0%. No significant difference was observed
between the mean of BMI (body mass index) as kg/m2, waist circumference (cm), systolic pressure (mm Hg), and
diastolic pressure (mm Hg) in both groups before and after the intervention. The measure of optimal changes
in serum levels of MDA (malondialdehyde oxidant), AGEs (advanced glycation end-products), oxidized LDL
(oxidized low density lipoprotein), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and the improvement of antioxidant
catalase copper markers were significantly higher in the intervention group, compared to the control one.
Conclusion: Administration of omega-3 as an auxiliary component in the treatment of patients significantly
reduced the levels of inflammatory and oxidative markers and a significant increase in antioxidant markers in the
serum and improved blood pressure in patients with ulcerative colitis.