To the Editor:
The study by Belluzzi et al. (June 13 issue)
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suggests that fish oil reduced the frequency of relapse in patients with Crohn's disease. However, there is a serious flaw in the design ...of this study: the placebo group received a mixture of caprylic and capric acids. These saturated medium-chain fatty acids may not be an appropriate placebo. There is epidemiologic and experimental evidence that fatty acids, such as those contained in vegetable oils and fats, may have a role in the causation and pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.
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,
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It is likely that the fatty acids given as . . .