Nutrigenetic response to omega-3 fatty acids in obese asthmatics (NOOA): rationale and methods.

Uncontrolled asthma is a major cause of hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Factors including obesity, African ancestry and childhood are associated with increased asthma severity. Considering the high morbidity caused by asthma, relatively few classes of drugs exist to control this common disease. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies may be needed to reduce asthma's impact on public health. Data suggest that a high fat diet that is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids could promote both obesity and excessive inflammation, resulting in greater asthma severity. Small trials with supplemental omega-3 fatty acids have been conducted with encouraging but inconsistent results. The variability in response seen in past trials may be due to the past subjects' genetics (specifically ALOX5 rs59439148) or their particular asthma phenotypes. Therefore, the "Nutrigenetic response to Omega-3 Fatty acids in Obese Asthmatics (NOOA)" trial is currently underway and was designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled intervention study to determine if supplemental omega-3 fatty acids improves symptoms among obese adolescents and young adults with uncontrolled asthma. Here we report the design and rationale for the NOOA trial. Participants were given either 3.18 g daily of eicosapentaenoic acid and 822 mg daily docosahexaenoic acid, or matched control soy oil, for 24 weeks. Change in the asthma control questionnaire score was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included spirometry, impulse oscillometry, exacerbation rate, airway biomarkers, systemic inflammation, leukotriene biosynthesis and T-lymphocyte function. NOOA may lead to a new therapeutic treatment strategy and greater understanding of the mechanistic role of diet in the pathogenesis of asthma.

EUR-1008 pancreatic enzyme replacement is safe and effective in patients with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: EUR-1008 (Zenpep [pancrelipase]) is a new, enteric-coated, porcine-derived pancreatic enzyme product (PEP) developed for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with malabsorption associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Unlike currently marketed PEPs, EUR-1008 contains the label-claimed lipase content. Safety and efficacy were assessed in younger (<7 years) and older (> or =7 years) CF patients with EPI. METHODS: Two multicenter studies were conducted: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in patients > or =7 years of age (N=34) and a supplemental, open-label study in children <7 years of age (N=19). Use of any medications altering gastric pH/motility was prohibited during the studies. Outcome measures in the randomized trial included changes in the coefficient of fat absorption (CFA), coefficient of nitrogen absorption (CNA), and signs/symptoms of malabsorption for EUR-1008 vs. placebo. Outcome measures in the supplemental study included safety and response (defined as no steatorrhea and no overt signs/symptoms of malabsorption) to EUR-1008 vs. previous enzyme treatment. RESULTS: In the randomized trial, EUR-1008 treatment compared to placebo resulted in a significantly higher mean CFA (88.3% vs. 62.8%, respectively) and CNA (87.2% vs. 65.7%, respectively) (both p<0.001) and reduced the incidence of malabsorption signs and symptoms in 32 evaluable patients. In the supplemental study, 11 of 19 patients met the criteria for responder with EUR-1008 at the end of the study vs. 10 of 19 patients at screening (previous PEP), and improvements in clinical symptoms were reported with EUR-1008 treatment. EUR-1008 was safe and well tolerated, and no serious drug-related AEs were reported in either study. CONCLUSIONS: EUR-1008 was safe, well tolerated, and effective in CF patients of all ages with EPI-associated malabsorption in two clinical trials. Treatment led to clinically and statistically significant improvements in CFA and CNA in the randomized study, and control of malabsorption and clinical symptoms in both studies.