Co-supplementation of healthy women with fish oil and evening primrose oil increases plasma docosahexaenoic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid levels without reducing arachidonic acid concentrations.
Fish oil supplementation during pregnancy not only improves maternal and neonatal DHA status, but often reduces gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), dihomo-GLA (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (ARA) levels also, which may compromise foetal and infant development. The present study investigated the effects of a fish oil/evening primrose oil (FSO/EPO) blend (456 mg DHA/d and 353 mg GLA/d) compared to a placebo (mixture of habitual dietary fatty acids) on the plasma fatty acid (FA) composition in two groups of twenty non-pregnant women using a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel design. FA were quantified in plasma total lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol esters, and TAG at weeks 0, 4, 6 and 8. After 8 weeks of intervention, percentage changes from baseline values of plasma total lipid FA were significantly different between FSO/EPO and placebo for GLA (+49.9 % v. +2.1 %, means), DGLA (+13.8 % v. +0.7 %) and DHA (+59.6 % v. +5.5 %), while there was no significant difference for ARA ( - 2.2 % v. - 5.9 %). FA changes were largely comparable between plasma lipid fractions. In both groups three subjects reported mild adverse effects. As compared with placebo, FSO/EPO supplementation did not result in any physiologically relevant changes of safety parameters (blood cell count, liver enzymes). In women of childbearing age the tested FSO/EPO blend was well tolerated and appears safe. It increases plasma GLA, DGLA, and DHA levels without impairing ARA status. These data provide a basis for testing this FSO/EPO blend in pregnant women for its effects on maternal and neonatal FA status and infant development.
Geppert
Julia
J
Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Germany.
Demmelmair
Hans
H
Hornstra
Gerard
G
Koletzko
Berthold
B
D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid