title: Small supplements of N-3 fatty acids change serum low density lipoprotein composition by decreasing phospholid and apolipoprotein B concentrations in young adult women.
abstract: In order to investigate the effect of a short-term application of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the composition of serum very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL), nine women aged 29 +/- 4.2 years, following a diet with a SFA/MUFA/PUFA profile of 2.4/3/1, received supplements of six capsules daily, each capsule containing 0.137 g of n-3 fatty acids (14.5% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 8.9% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) for 10 d. Food consumption, assessed during two 10-days periods indicates that percentage contribution of SFA, MUFA, and PUFA to the daily energy intake did not change through the fish-oil supplementation period, but the daily consumption of n-3 fatty acids increased 2.3 times. N-3 fatty supplementation increased EPA and DHA percentages in serum phospholipids, but failed to decrease (p > 0.05) the cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in serum LDL and HDL, although it did so in VLDL. In contrast, the lipoprotein-phospholipid and lipoprotein-protein concentrations were markedly affected, mainly in LDL and HDL (at least p < 0.01). HDL and VLDL compositions were not affected but the total mass (lipid + protein in mg/dl) concentration of these lipoproteins significantly decreased (p < 0.05), suggesting a lower number of these particles in circulating blood after the n-3 treatment. The LDL-cholesterol/LDL-apolipoprotein B ratio increased (p < 0.01) reflecting a probable increase in LDL size. Following fish oil supplementation, LDL particles contained a significantly lower amount of phospholipids, which also suggests changes in the surface/core ratio of the average LDL. Changes in serum lipoprotein lipids did not significantly correlate with any dietary change other than the n-3 fatty acid increase. The results indicate that a 10-day application of a small supplement of n-3 change the LDL composition leading to less atherogenic LDL particles with lower phospholipid and apolipoprotein (Apo) B concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Nutrición y Bromatologia I, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. frasan@eucmax.sim.ucm.es
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Muniz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastida
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Viejo
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Terpstra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D010743:Phospholipids; D002784:Cholesterol