title: Habitual diets rich in dark-green vegetables are associated with an increased response to ω-3 fatty acid supplementation in Americans of African ancestry.
abstract: Although substantial variation exists in individual responses to omega-3 (ω-3) (n-3) fatty acid supplementation, the causes for differences in response are largely unknown. Here we investigated the associations between the efficacy of ω-3 fatty acid supplementation and a broad range of nutritional and clinical factors collected during a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in participants of African ancestry, randomly assigned to receive either 2 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + 1 g docosahexaenoic acid (n = 41) or corn/soybean oil placebo (n = 42) supplements for 6 wk. Food-frequency questionnaires were administered, and changes in erythrocyte lipids, lipoproteins, and monocyte 5-lipoxygenase-dependent metabolism were measured before and after supplementation. Mixed-mode linear regression modeling identified high (n = 28) and low (n = 13) ω-3 fatty acid response groups on the basis of changes in erythrocyte EPA abundance (P < 0.001). Compliance was equivalent (∼88%), whereas decreases in plasma triglycerides and VLDL particle sizes and reductions in stimulated monocyte leukotriene B4 production were larger in the high-response group. Although total diet quality scores were similar, the low-response group showed lower estimated 2005 Healthy Eating Index subscores for dark-green and orange vegetables and legumes (P = 0.01) and a lower intake of vegetables (P = 0.02), particularly dark-green vegetables (P = 0.002). Because the findings reported here are associative in nature, prospective studies are needed to determine if dietary dark-green vegetables or nutrients contained in these foods can enhance the efficacy of ω-3 fatty acid supplements. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00536185.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Food Science and Technology, and.
authors.forename: Aifric
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Gertrud U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Theresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Hooman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allayee
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Stephensen
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D002149:Energy Intake; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016014:Linear Models; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase