Omega-3 fatty acid supplements improve the cardiovascular risk profile of subjects with metabolic syndrome, including markers of inflammation and auto-immunity.
OBJECTIVE
Fish-oil contains high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. We have evaluated the effects of purified omega-3 fatty acid supplements on several anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including heat shock protein (Hsp) 27 antibody titres in subjects with metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 120) with metabolic syndrome (mean age of 52.9 +/- 11.9 years) were randomly allocated to one of two groups: sixty subjects were given 1 gram of fish oil as a single capsule, containing 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid daily for 6 months. Control subjects did not receive any supplementation over the same period.


RESULTS
The study was completed by 47 subjects in the intervention group and 42 subjects in the control group. Treatment with omega 3 supplements was associated with a significant fall in body weight (P < 0.05), systolic blood pressures (P < 0.05), serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05), and total cholesterol (P < 0.05), triglycerides (P < 0.05), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (P < 0.01), and Hsp27 antibody titres (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that omega 3 improves the cardiovascular risk profile of subjects with metabolic syndrome, having effects on weight, systolic blood pressure, lipid profile and markers of inflammation and autoimmunity.
Ebrahimi
Mahmoud
M
Heart and Vascular Research Centre, Avicenna (Bu-Ali) Research Institute, MUMS, Mashhad, Iran.
Ghayour-Mobarhan
Majid
M
Rezaiean
Samaneh
S
Hoseini
Maryam
M
Parizade
Seyyed Mohamad Reza
SM
Farhoudi
Fatemeh
F
Hosseininezhad
Syyed Javad
SJ
Tavallaei
Shima
S
Vejdani
Amirhosein
A
Azimi-Nezhad
Mohsen
M
Shakeri
Mohamad Taghi
MT
Rad
Mina Akbari
MA
Mobarra
Naser
N
Kazemi-Bajestani
Seyyed Mohammad Reza
SM
Ferns
Gordon A A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid