A preliminary study on intravenous infusion of sodium eicosapentaenoate.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA), made into sodium salt solution (50 micrograms/ml), were used for intravenous infusion. In a preclinical study in dogs, Na-EPA lowered the activity of transminases (glutamic pyruvic transaminase [GPT], glytamic oxaloacetic transaminase [GOT]); however, Na-AA increased the activity of GPT and GOT. In the clinical study, the numbers of leukocytes and lymphocytes of volunteers increased and remained at that level for 3 to 5 days after intravenous infusion. The study indicated that an intravenous infusion of Na-EPA may have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.