Lack of influence of omega-3 fatty acid-enriched lipids on apoptosis and secondary necrosis of cultured human lymphocytes.

Objective: The anti-inflammatory properties of parenteral nutrition might be improved by enrichment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are responsible for the enhanced release of metabolites derived from eicosapentaenoic acid. Under physiologic conditions, lymphocyte populations are regulated by cellular mechanisms such as apoptosis. In contrast to cell death by necrosis, apoptosis does not induce an inflammatory response that might injure the host.