Eicosapentaenoic acid decreases postprandial beta-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acid responses in healthy young and elderly.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether a dietary supplement rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) increases fasting plasma ketones or postprandial ketone responses in healthy young and elderly subjects.


METHODS
Ten young (22 +/- 1 y old) and 10 elderly (75 +/- 1 y old) subjects were recruited and participated in two identical study days, one before and one 6 wk after providing an EPA-enriched supplement (1.4 g/d of EPA and 0.2 g/d of docosahexaenoic acid). On the study days, blood samples were collected at fasting and every hour for 6 h after giving a breakfast. Fasting and postprandial plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB), free fatty acid (FFA), triacylglycerol, glucose, and insulin responses were measured. Fatty acid profiles were assessed in fasting plasma samples before and after the EPA supplement.


RESULTS
After the EPA supplement, postprandial plasma beta-OHB responses decreased by 44% in the young and by 24% in the elderly subjects, in addition to 20% and 34% lower FFA responses in the young and elderly adults, respectively. beta-OHB and FFAs were positively and significantly correlated in young but not in elderly subjects before and after the EPA supplement. In both groups, postprandial plasma triacylglycerols, glucose, and insulin were not significantly different after the intake of the EPA supplement. Before and after the EPA supplement, fasting plasma EPA was 50% higher in the elderly but increased by about five times in both groups after intake of the EPA supplement.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to our expectations, EPA supplementation lowered postprandial beta-OHB response and, in the elderly subjects, the concentration of postprandial beta-OHB was not lowered after intake of the EPA supplement.
Plourde
Mélanie
M
Research Center on Aging, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. melanie.plourde2@usherbrooke.ca
Tremblay-Mercier
Jennifer
J
Fortier
Mélanie
M
Pifferi
Fabien
F
Cunnane
Stephen C
SC
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007659:Ketones / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019518:Postprandial Period; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D007328:Insulin; D007659:Ketones; D014280:Triglycerides; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid