title: Fish oil treatment and apolipoprotein(a).
abstract: Two recent reports showed a lowering of elevated lipoprotein(a) levels upon treatment with fish oil. The aim of this paper was to confirm this finding and to establish a dose-effect relationship. A double blind, placebo controlled cross-over study was carried out in 48 subjects with apolipoprotein(a) ("Apo(a)") values between 34 and 1062 U/l (median 387 U/l). The subjects were divided into 3 groups receiving 3.5, 7.1 and 10.6 g omega-3 fatty acids/day during 28 days. Parameters measured were blood levels of eicosapentaenoic acid ("EPA"), Apo(a) and fasting blood lipids. EPA levels rose in the three dosage groups by factors 7, 9 and 14, respectively, if compared to values upon placebo. Triglycerides were significantly lowered in a dose depending manner. Apo(a), however, was not changed. This held true for different baseline Apo(a) values and different fish oil dosages. It is concluded that fish oil treatment during 4 weeks cannot lower elevated Apo(a) levels.
authors.affiliation: Zentrallabor der Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luley
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lelieur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanisch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vohwinkel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lodde
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wieland
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Klör
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid