Dietary intake of stearidonic acid-enriched soybean oil increases the omega-3 index: randomized, double-blind clinical study of efficacy and safety.
BACKGROUND
The benefits of omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to heart health are well established. Stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n-3) may contribute to these benefits.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate the ability of SDA-containing soybean oil to increase the omega-3 index [erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid, as a percentage of total fatty acids] and to affect other cardiovascular disease risk markers compared with EPA and regular soy oil (control).


METHODS
This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind multicenter study in which 252 overweight subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments for 12 wk: 1 g encapsulated soybean oil/d plus 14.7 g liquid soybean oil/d to be mixed in food (control group), 1 g encapsulated EPA/d plus 14.7 g liquid soybean oil/d (EPA group), and 1 g encapsulated soybean oil/d plus 14.7 g liquid SDA-enriched soybean oil/d, providing 4.2 g SDA (SDA group). Subjects consumed treatment oils in exchange for other oils in their diet.


RESULTS
The mean (±SE) baseline omega-3 index was similar between treatments, but after 12 wk of treatment values for this index were 4.15 ± 0.12%, 4.84 ± 0.13%, and 4.69 ± 0.15% for control, EPA, and SDA groups, respectively. Values for the EPA and SDA groups were greater than those for control subjects in the intent-to-treat population (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). No adverse treatment-related effects of SDA-enriched soybean oil were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
SDA-enriched soybean oil increased the omega-3 index by raising erythrocyte EPA concentrations. SDA-enriched soybean oil is a land-based n-3 fatty acid that is a sustainable approach to increasing tissue concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids.
Lemke
Shawna L
SL
Monsanto Company, St Louis, MO 63167, USA. shawna.lin.lemke@monsanto.com
Vicini
John L
JL
Su
Hong
H
Goldstein
Daniel A
DA
Nemeth
Margaret A
MA
Krul
Elaine S
ES
Harris
William S
WS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012449:Safety; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D013024:Soybean Oil; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C062895:stearidonic acid