[Low-dose omega-3 fatty acids as lipid lowering agents in the practice. A field study of ambulatory patients in general practice].
BASICS: Clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fatty acids are also effective at smaller doses than those so far recommended for lowering lipid concentrations.


OBJECTIVE
Testing this finding in a large number of unselected outpatients.


METHODS
Open multicentric trial involving 197 patients with dyslipoproteinemia. Treatment comprised omega-3 fatty acids, 1.1 to 1.4 g per day administered for a period of 12 weeks.


RESULTS
After 12 weeks of treatment, serum triglycerides decreased on average by about 23%, total cholesterol by about 10%, and LDL cholesterol by about 5%. HDL cholesterol rose by an average of 16%. The fish oil preparation (Eicosapen, Nycomed, Munich) was well tolerated; a fishy taste and mild gastrointestinal complaints led to discontinuation of treatment in only four cases. It was also found that the effect of omega-3 fatty acids was appreciably greater in hypertensives than in patients with normal blood pressure--not only on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but also on serum triglycerides and HDL.
Zakaria
B
B
Bertsch
S
S
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
Niedrigdosierte Omega-3-Fettsäuren als Lipidsenker in der Praxis. Feldstudie an ambulanten Patienten in allgemeinärztlichen Praxen.