Effects of modest doses of omega-3 fatty acids on lipids and lipoproteins in hypertriglyceridemic subjects. A randomized controlled trial.
Unlike the well-established hypotriglyceridemic effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, the influence of more clinically tolerable doses on lipoproteins and apolipoproteins is less well characterized. Therefore, we compared the relative effects of modest doses of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation with a corn oil control on lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins in a randomized, double-blind controlled crossover study. Eight hypertriglyceridemic subjects ingested 4.6 g/d of omega-3 fatty acids or 5.4 g/d of linoleic acid (supplied as corn oil) for 8 weeks, then crossed over to the alternative encapsulated oil for another 8 weeks, following an interposed 4-week wash-out period. Compared with the corn oil control, fish oil supplementation caused a significant reduction in triglyceride levels by a mean of 2.21 mmol/L and increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by a mean of 0.13 mmol/L, associated with a significant rise in the high-density lipoprotein 3 subfraction. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apolipoprotein B levels by a mean of 0.246 g/L. Compared with corn oil, no statistically significant change for LDL cholesterol or other apolipoprotein levels occurred, although LDL cholesterol showed a mild elevation. These data suggest that unlike large doses of omega-3 fatty acids, the hypotriglyceridemic effect of modest amounts of encapsulated fish oil supplementation is unaccompanied by favorable changes in LDL cholesterol or LDL apolipoprotein B levels; the potential therapeutic usefulness of modest doses of dietary fish oil for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, therefore, may be limited.
Deck
C
C
Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Radack
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D003314:Corn Oil; D002784:Cholesterol