Comparison of the effects of fish and fish-oil capsules on the n 3 fatty acid content of blood cells and plasma phospholipids.
BACKGROUND
n-3 Fatty acids (FAs) have been shown to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Whether n-3 FAs from oily fish consumed weekly or from fish-oil capsules taken daily are equally bioavailable is not clear.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the rate and extent of enrichment of blood cell membranes [ie, red blood cells (RBCs)] and plasma phospholipids with n-3 FAs from these 2 sources.


METHODS
Healthy premenopausal female volunteers were randomly assigned to consume a daily average of 485 mg eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids either from 2 servings of oily fish (ie, salmon and albacore tuna) per week or from 1-2 capsules/d.


RESULTS
After 16 wk, EPA+DHA in RBCs in the fish group (n = 11) increased from 4.0 +/- 0.6% of total FAs to 6.2 +/- 1.4%, whereas it rose from 4.3 +/- 1.0% to 6.2 +/- 1.4% in the capsule group (P < 0.0001 for both; NS for group effect). Similar results were observed in plasma phospholipids. EPA+DHA stabilized in the latter after 4 wk but continued to rise through week 16 in RBCs. EPA in RBCs increased significantly (P = 0.01) more rapidly in the fish group than in the capsule group during the first 4 wk, but rates did not differ significantly between groups thereafter. Total FA variances were less in RBCs than in plasma phospholipids (P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the consumption of equal amounts of EPA and DHA from oily fish on a weekly basis or from fish-oil capsules on a daily basis is equally effective at enriching blood lipids with n-3 FAs.
Lipid and Diabetes Research Center, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO, USA. bill.harris@usd.edu
William S
WS
Harris
James V
JV
Pottala
Scott A
SA
Sands
Philip G
PG
Jones
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D005395:Fish Oils; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002784:Cholesterol; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid