Novel methods for treating disorders in which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels are affected

Abstract

A method of treating disorders in which DHA levels are affected is described. The method includes administering to a subject suffering from the disorder a therapeutically affective amount of DHA. This method is particularly useful in treating subjects suffering from a disorder characterized by a defect in the CF gene, e.g., cystic fibrosis, or a chronic inflammatory disorder, e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic pancreatitis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or chronic gastritis. A method of ameliorating affects of cystic fibrosis in a newborn and a method of increasing surfactant levels in a fetus are also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a subject suffering from a disorder in which DHA levels are affected, comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of an omega 3 fatty acid having 22-24 carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DHA levels are raised in the plasma to at least about 170 μg/ml.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the DHA levels are raised in the plasma to at least about 200 μg/ml to about 500 μg/ml.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fatty acid is DHA.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a therapeutically effective amount of DHA is about 0.3-5% of total caloric intake.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a therapeutically effective amount of DHA is about 0.5-3% of total caloric intake.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of DHA produces a pancreatic AA/DHA ratio of about 0.2-1.5.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of DHA produces a lung AA/DHA ratio of about 0.1-1.6.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of DHA produces a blood AA/DHA ratio of about 0.1-1.6.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosapentaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenoic acid and tetracosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a therapeutically effective amount of said fatty acid is about 0.3-5% of total caloric intake.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a therapeutically effective amount of said fatty acid is about 0.5-3% of total caloric intake.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disorder is a disorder characterized by a defect in a CFTR gene.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the disorder is cystic fibrosis.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disorder is a chronic inflammatory disorder.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said chronic inflammatory disorder is selected from the group consisting of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic pancreatitis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic gastritis.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disorder is associated with abrogated fetal lung surfactant biosynthesis.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fatty acid is administered as a part of a structured lipid.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said fatty acid is located at R 2  position of said structured lipid.  
     
     
         20 . A method of increasing the level of DHA in one or more tissues of a subject having a disorder in which DHA levels are affected, comprising administering to said subject a therapeutic composition comprising an omega 3 fatty acid having 22-24 carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds in an amount effective to raise the levels of DHA in said subject's tissue.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said DHA level is increased in affected tissue.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the affected tissue is plasma, pancreatic or lung tissue.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said disease characterized by a DHA or AA associated pathology is selected from the group consisting of a disorder characterized by a defect in a CFTR gene, a chronic inflammatory disorder and a abrogated fetal lung surfactant biosynthesis.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said DHA levels are increased in the plasma to at least about 170 μg/ml.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said fatty is DHA.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said therapeutic composition comprises DHA in a range of about 0.3-5% of total caloric intake.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosapentaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenoic acid and tetracosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         28 . A method of ameliorating affects of cystic fibrosis in a newborn, comprising administering a therapeutic composition comprising an omega 3 fatty acid having 22-24 carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds to a mother during pregnancy such that the affects of cystic fibrosis in the newborn are ameliorated.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said fatty is DHA.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosapentaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenoic acid and tetracosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         31 . A method of increasing surfactant levels in a fetus, comprising administering a therapeutic composition comprising an omega 3 fatty acid having 22-24 carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds to a pregnant woman who may or may not be at risk for premature delivery such that the surfactant levels in the fetus are increased.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fatty is DHA.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosapentaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenoic acid and tetracosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         34 . A method of treating hypertrophy of small intestine in a subject suffering from a disorder in which DHA levels are affected, comprising administering to said subject a therapeutic composition comprising an omega 3 fatty acid having 22-24 carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds in an amount effective to decrease hypertrophy of small intestine by at least about 25 percent.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said fatty is DHA.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosapentaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenoic acid and tetracosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         37 . A method of restoring a normal morphology of a cell or a tissue which exhibits a disease morphology associated with a disorder in which DHA levels are affected, comprising contacting a cell or a tissue with a therapeutically effective amount of an omega 3 fatty acid having 22-24 carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds such that the normal morphology of said cell or tissue is restored.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said fatty is DHA.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosapentaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenoic acid and tetracosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said cell is a pancreatic acinar cell or a lung cell.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said cell is a cell containing the cystic fibrosis gene product.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said contacting occurs in vitro or in vivo.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said cell is in a subject.  
     
     
         44 . A method of increasing surfactant levels in a patient, comprising administering a therapeutic composition comprising an omega 3 fatty acid having 22-24 carbon atoms and 5 or more double bonds to a pregnant woman who may or may not be at risk for premature delivery such that the surfactant levels in the fetus are increased.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said fatty is DHA.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosapentaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenoic acid and tetracosahexaenoic acid.