Effectiveness and tolerability of oral administration of low-dose salmon oil to HIV patients with HAART-associated dyslipidemia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of low-dose salmon oil for the treatment of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients.


METHODS
Randomized, open-label, parallel and crossover, multicenter study. Patients received 1 g salmon oil tid for 24 weeks (SO-24) or no additional treatment for 12 weeks and salmon oil for weeks 12 to 24 (CT-SO). The primary outcome measure was the change in triglyceride (TG) levels.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight patients completed the study (26 in SO-24; 32 in CT-SO). After 12 weeks, the SO-24 group experienced a mean TG reduction of 1.1 mmol/L, compared to an increase of 0.3 mmol/L for the CT-SO group (p = .040). When CT-SO patients were crossed over to salmon oil treatment, mean TG decreased by 0.7 mmol/L (p = .052). Concomitant use of fibrates, statins, or both were reported by 16 (27.6%), 10 (17.2%), and 8 (13.8%), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that salmon oil produced a significant decrease in TG levels independent of other lipid-lowering medications (p = .022). There were 26 predominately mild treatment-emergent (antiretroviral or salmon oil) nonserious adverse events reported by 22 (33.3%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose salmon oil (3 g/day) is effective and well-tolerated in reducing TG levels in HIV-infected patients receiving HAART.
Baril
Jean-Guy
JG
Clinique Medicale du Quartier Latin, Montreal, Canada.
Kovacs
Colin M
CM
Trottier
Sylvie
S
Roederer
Ghislaine
G
Martel
Alain Y
AY
Ackad
Nabil
N
Koulis
Theodoro
T
Sampalis
John S
JS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002995:Clofibric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D005395:Fish Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D002995:Clofibric Acid; C030341:salmon oil