title: Reduction in triglyceride level with N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in HIV-infected patients taking potent antiretroviral therapy: a randomized prospective study.
abstract: To assess the evolution of triglyceride (TG) levels in HIV-infected patients receiving stable potent antiretroviral therapy treated with N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), a prospective double-blind randomized design for a reliable assessment of TG evolution was performed. One hundred twenty-two patients with TG levels >2 g/L and < or =10 g/L after a 4-week diet (baseline TG: 4.5 +/- 1.9 g/L) were randomized for 8 weeks to N-3 PUFAs (2 capsules containing 1 g of fish oil 3 times daily, n = 60), or placebo (1 g of paraffin oil capsules, n = 62). An 8-week open-label phase of N-3 PUFAs followed. Evaluation criteria were TG percent change at week 8, percentage of responders (normalization or > or =20% TG decrease), and safety issues. Ten patients with baseline TG levels >10 g/L were not randomized and received N-3 PUFAs as open treatment. The difference (PUFA - placebo) in TG percent change at week 8 was -24.6% (range: -40.9% to -8.4%; P = 0.0033), the median was -25.5% in the PUFA group versus 1% in the placebo group, and mean TG levels at week 8 were 3.4 +/- 1.8 g/L and 4.8 +/- 3.1 g/L, respectively. TG levels were normalized in 22.4% (PUFA) versus 6.5% (placebo) of patients (P = 0.013) with a > or =20% reduction in 58.6% (PUFA) versus 33.9% (placebo) of patients (P = 0.007). Under the open-label phase of N-3 PUFAs, the decrease in TG levels was sustained at week 16 for patients in the PUFA group (mean TG: 3.4 +/- 1.7 g/L), whereas a 21.2% decrease in TG levels occurred for patients in the placebo group (mean TG: 3.3 +/- 1.4 g/L). No significant differences were observed between groups in the occurrence of adverse events. The median TG change at week 8 was -43.6% (range: Q1-Q3; 95% CI: -66.5% to -4.6%) for patients with baseline TG levels >10 g/L. The difference in mean total cholesterol between groups (PUFA - placebo) at week 8 was -8.5% (P = 0.0117). This study demonstrated the efficacy of PUFAs to lower elevated TG levels in treated HIV-infected hypertriglyceridemic patients. N-3 PUFAs have a good safety profile.
authors.affiliation: AP-HP, University Paris-Ile-de-France-Ouest-Versailles, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, 104 boulevard Raymond Poincaré, 92380 Garches, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Truchis
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirstetter
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perier
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zucman
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Force
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katlama
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rozenbaum
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masson
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardette
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Melchior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; C045153:Maxepa; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid