USE OF TRIGLYCERIDE OILS CONTAINING GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID RESIDUES AND LINOLEIC ACID RESIDUES FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE

摘要

A method is provided for treating a patient in need of therapy for a neurodegenerative disease comprising administering to that patient a therapeutically effective dose of a triglyceride oil containing both .gamma. - linolenic acid and linoleic acid residues as triglyceride ester, the ratio o f .gamma.-linolenic acid to linoleic acid residues at the sn-2 position of the triglyceride being at least 0.8; the amount of .gamma. -linolenic acid residues at the sn-2 position being at least 18 %, wherein the oil is administered at a dose sufficient to maintain or elevate TGF- .beta.1 levels in the patient at a therapeutic level. Preferably the method is that wherein the therapeutic level is such as to produce a TGF- .beta.l/TNF-.alpha. ratio of at least 0.5 in blood of a patient, after 18 months of daily dosing. Preferre oils are Borage or Mucor oils having at least 35 % of the sn-2 position fatty acid residues as .gamma.-linolenic acid.