title: Effect of fish oil (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and inflammatory markers in HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: Patients on antiretroviral therapy are reported to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and inflammatory markers in HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy. We randomized 51 patients in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to receive either 2 capsules of Omacor twice daily or 2 capsules of placebo. Compliance was measured by determining levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in neutrophils. Plasma triglycerides were reduced in the n-3 PUFA group by 0.14 mmol/l after 12 weeks of treatment (n=26), while plasma triglycerides increased by 0.36 mmol/l in the control group (n=25). The difference between groups was significant, p=0.03. No significant effect of treatment was found for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or apolipoproteins. There was a significant increase in leukotriene B5 (LTB5) and LTB5/LTB4 ratio in the n-3 PUFA group compared to the control group. Baseline values for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were comparable at baseline, and the intervention did not change these parameters significantly. The present study showed that treatment with n-3 PUFA slightly decreased plasma triglycerides and induced anti-inflammatory effects by increasing formation of anti-inflammatory LTB5.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thusgaard
authors.forename: Jesper H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mørn
authors.forename: Tina S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Runar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vige
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arildsen
authors.forename: Erik B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002784:Cholesterol; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C405603:Omacor