Out-licensing

Dietary Formulation Comprising Arachidonic Acid for Improving Immune Function

Introduction/Background

Protein calorie malnutrition is a common complication in patients with chronic liver disease. One potential mechanism for malnutrition in chronic liver disease patients is an inadequate intake of essential fatty acids. The two fatty acids essential in human nutrition are linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid from which polysaturated fatty acids of the omega 6 series and omega 3 series are formed. Patients with advanced liver disease may have an impaired ability to form these conditionally essential fatty acids. It has been shown that elongation and desaturation are the limiting factors of this process. It is reasonable to suspect that some of the untoward side effects of end stage liver disease, including decreased immunocompetence and increased risk of infection and mortality, may be a consequence of conditional essential fatty acid deficiency. Addition of arachidonic acid alone to a diet formulation is problematic since it is pro-inflammatory and immunosupressive, and alternatives to that such as eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid would likely lead to lowering of arachidonic acid levels.

Aims/Hypothesis

Thus a need exists to develop a novel dietary formulation, which could restore arachidonic acid levels and provide added immune-enhancing benefits.

Research

This invention provides a novel formulation that restores arachidonic acid levels, which can improve immune function of the patient. Significant increase in the linoleic acid and sum of omega 6 fatty acids has been shown in liver diseased patients post supplementation. Unlike addition of arachdonic acid alone to a diet formulation which is pro-inflammatory or the alternative of EPA or DHA which are likely to lower arachdonic acid levels, the formulation described here can restore arachidonic acid levels and improve immune function of the patient.

Conclusion

We have developed a dietary formulation with arachidonic acid for improving immune function.

Relevance/Opportunity

US Patent 5,993,221 has been issued. The method of the invention is particularly useful for patients who are critically ill for a variety of reasons including surgery, burns, trauma, cancer, AIDS, multisystem organ failure, sepsis, or inflammatory process. It is also useful for individuals who may have an infection at time of administration of the diet, or may be at risk of infection due to immunocompromise. Please enquire regarding licensing or codevelopment partnerships quoting reference no. 351.

Preclinical

US Patent 5,993,221 issued on 11/30/99