Modulation of atherosclerotic risk factors by seal oil: a preliminary assessment.
We examined whether dietary supplementation with seal oil influenced the risk factors of atherosclerosis in healthy volunteers. Two intervention studies were carried out as preliminary steps in a larger project which aim at elucidating the disease preventive potential of seal oil. In study I ten healthy volunteers added 10 capsules of seal oil to their normal Western diet for six weeks. Blood tests were analysed for total-, HDL-, and LDL-cholesterol and plasma triglyceride, and the ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acid was determined in plasma and erythrocyte membranes. In study II we examined the effect in five healthy volunteers who had only 5 capsules of seal oil daily for six weeks. As an additional test in study II, the effect on the proinflammatory TNF-alpha cytokine in lymphocytes was determined. A slightly decreased, however, not significant effect was observed for each of the cholesterol's after seal oil supplementation. In both studies plasma triglyceride, and the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio of plasma and erythrocytes were significantly reduced upon seal oil intake. During the intervention period of study II a distinct reduced level of TNF-alpha was observed in isolated lymphocytes. The examinations suggest that supplementation of seal oil, 10 capsules or 5 capsules/day, may have beneficial effects on factors thought to be associated with cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases.
Bonefeld-Jørgensen
E C
EC
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aarhus, DK-8000, Aarhus, Denmark. ebj@mil.au.dk
Møller
S M
SM
Hansen
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers; D003718:Denmark; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D046048:Seals, Earless; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C077446:Pikasol