Omega 3 fatty acids induce a marked reduction of apolipoprotein B48 when added to fluvastatin in patients with type 2 diabetes and mixed hyperlipidemia: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Mixed hyperlipidemia is common in patients with diabetes. Statins, the choice drugs, are effective at reducing lipoproteins that contain apolipoprotein B100, but they fail to exert good control over intestinal lipoproteins, which have an atherogenic potential. We describe the effect of prescription omega 3 fatty acids on the intestinal lipoproteins in patients with type 2 diabetes who were already receiving fluvastatin 80 mg per day.


METHODS
Patients with type 2 diabetes and mixed hyperlipidemia were recruited. Fasting lipid profile was taken when patients were treated with diet, diet plus 80 mg of fluvastatin and diet plus fluvastatin 80 mg and 4 g of prescription omega 3 fatty acids. The intestinal lipoproteins were quantified by the fasting concentration of apolipoprotein B48 using a commercial ELISA.


RESULTS
The addition of 4 g of prescription omega 3 was followed by significant reductions in the levels of triglycerides, VLDL triglycerides and the triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05). Fluvastatin induced a reduction of 26% in B100 (P < 0.05) and 14% in B48 (NS). However, the addition of omega 3 fatty acids enhanced this reduction to 32% in B100 (NS) and up to 36% in B48 (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary findings therefore suggest an additional benefit on postprandial atherogenic particles when omega 3 fatty acids are added to standard treatment with fluvastatin.
Valdivielso
Pedro
P
Department of Medicine, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Department of Medicine & Dermatology, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain. valdivielso@uma.es
Rioja
José
J
García-Arias
Carlota
C
Sánchez-Chaparro
Miguel Angel
MA
González-Santos
Pedro
P
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053283:Apolipoprotein B-48 / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006950:Hyperlipidemia, Familial Combined / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D053283:Apolipoprotein B-48; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D008055:Lipids; C405603:Omacor