title: The acute effects of a single very high dose of n-3 fatty acids on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy subjects.
abstract: Forty healthy volunteers were allocated in a double blind, randomized study to receive either 20 g of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or 20 g of n-6 PUFA at their evening meal. The effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins of this single dose of fish oil vs. corn oil was studied the next morning, 14 h after ingestion. Plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly decreased (33%) after n-3 PUFA (P < 0.001), and significantly (P < 0.01) more than after intake of n-6 PUFA. The decrease in plasma triglycerides after n-3 PUFA ingestion was more pronounced in subjects with higher baseline levels of triglycerides (P < 0.001). Total cholesterol decreased after both supplements, but did not differ between the supplements. Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol did not change, and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly decreased in subjects given n-3 PUFA compared to baseline, but not when compared to subjects receiving n-6 PUFA. In conclusion, we have shown that a single very high dose of n-3 PUFA has a pronounced hypotriglyceridemic effect, which is directly related to the initial plasma level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Svaneborg
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Varming
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lervang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyerberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D009821:Oils; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009821:Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol