title: Lipid responses to a dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplement in men and women with below average levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess fasting lipid responses to a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplement in men and women with below-average levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial included 57 subjects, 21-80 years of age, with fasting HDL cholesterol concentrations < or =44 mg/dL (men) and < or =54 mg/dL (women), but > or =35 mg/dL. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 1.52 g/day DHA from capsules containing DHA-rich algal triglycerides or olive oil (control) for six weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between groups in baseline lipid values. The DHA supplemented group showed significant changes [-43 (DHA) vs. -14 (controls) mg/dL, p = 0.015] and percent changes [-21% (DHA) vs. -7% (controls), p = 0.009] in triglycerides, total (12 vs. 3 mg/dL; p = 0.021 and 6% vs. 2%; p = 0.018) and low-density lipoprotein (17 vs. 3 mg/dL; p = 0.001 and 12% vs. 3%; p = 0.001) cholesterol concentrations, and in the triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio (-1.33 vs. -0.50, p = 0.010), compared with controls. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of LDL cholesterol carried by small, dense particles in the DHA supplemented group (changes = -10% vs. -3%, p = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with 1.52 g/d of DHA in men and women with below-average HDL cholesterol concentrations raised the LDL cholesterol level, but had favorable effects on triglycerides, the triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio and the fraction of LDL cholesterol carried by small, dense particles. Further research is warranted to evaluate the net impact of these alterations on cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: M.D., Radiant Development, 515 N. State St., 27th Floor, Chicago, IL 60610, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Van Elswyk
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Serena P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Veith
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Papasani
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subbaiah
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids