title: Bioavailability of marine n-3 fatty acid formulations.
abstract: The use of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) as supplements has prompted the development of concentrated formulations to overcome compliance problems. The present study compares three concentrated preparations - ethyl esters, free fatty acids and re-esterified triglycerides - with placebo oil in a double-blinded design, and with fish body oil and cod liver oil in single-blinded arms. Seventy-two volunteers were given approximately 3.3g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) daily for 2 weeks. Increases in absolute amounts of EPA and DHA in fasting serum triglycerides, cholesterol esters and phospholipids were examined. Bioavailability of EPA+DHA from re-esterified triglycerides was superior (124%) compared with natural fish oil, whereas the bioavailability from ethyl esters was inferior (73%). Free fatty acid bioavailability (91%) did not differ significantly from natural triglycerides. The stereochemistry of fatty acid in acylglycerols did not influence the bioavailability of EPA and DHA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. jdcon@post4.tele.dk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyerberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aardestrup
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002784:Cholesterol; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid