Can the hypotriglyceridemic effect of fish oil concentrate be sustained?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether high doses of fish oil concentrate followed by low-dose maintenance therapy can sustain the initial plasma triglyceride reductions.


METHODS
Before-and-after trial with 3-month treatment periods.


METHODS
Outpatient lipid clinic at a university medical center.


METHODS
Sixteen patients with hypertriglyceridemia recruited from the General Internal Medicine Clinics. Five had concomitant hypercholesterolemia (type IIb).


METHODS
Fish oil supplementation at two doses. After basal measurements, 9.8 g/d omega-3 fatty acids were provided for study months 1 to 3, and 3.9 g/d were provided for study months 4 to 6.


RESULTS
Blood was drawn monthly and plasma was analyzed for levels of triglycerides, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, and glucose and glycohemoglobin. During therapy with the higher dose, mean plasma triglyceride levels were reduced from 3.65 +/- 0.35 mmol/L at baseline to 1.85 +/- 0.20 mmol/L at 1 month, but increased by 30% to 2.40 +/- 0.30 mmol/L by the third month of therapy (P less than 0.05): this increase could not be explained by changes in body weight or compliance. Plasma triglyceride levels continued to increase with low-dose therapy and remained only 11% below baseline values by the sixth month of therapy (P = not significant). Although fish oil therapy increased HDL cholesterol levels (+18% at high dose; 99% CI, 5% to 31%), favorable changes were not seen in LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, or apolipoprotein A1 levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Fish oil concentrate at high doses followed by low-dose maintenance therapy cannot sustain the initial large plasma triglyceride reductions. Moreover, the efficacy of the higher dose becomes less pronounced after the first month of therapy. This reduced efficacy during prolonged therapy, and the lack of beneficial effect on apolipoprotein and LDL cholesterol levels, may limit the practical benefit of fish oil in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.
Schectman
G
G
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Kaul
S
S
Cherayil
G D
GD
Lee
M
M
Kissebah
A
A
D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides