title: Marine oil capsule therapy for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.
abstract: Because marine oil capsules may vary widely in their content of omega-3 fatty acids, saturated fat, and cholesterol composition and, therefore, their biologic potency, we compared the lipid-lowering effects of three representative preparations in patients with different forms of hyperlipidemia. The ester and triglyceride forms of marine oil both effectively lowered triglyceride, but the response of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was variable; it declined modestly in patients with hypercholesterolemia and was either unchanged or increased in those with hypertriglyceridemia. The saturated fat and cholesterol content of the marine oil preparation appeared to influence the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response. Therefore, marine oil capsules are useful for lowering levels of very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but the large dose required to achieve and sustain this effect (4.5 g of omega-3 fatty acids, or nine to 18 capsules daily) may limit long-term compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Ill. 60607.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Subbaiah
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Conn
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Drennan
mesh_terms: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006951:Hyperlipoproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; C045153:Maxepa; C056974:SuperEPA; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C060580:Promega; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid