Randomized controlled trial examining the effects of fish oil and multivitamin supplementation on the incorporation of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids into red blood cells.
The present randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-groups clinical trial examined the effects of fish oil and multivitamin supplementation on the incorporation of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids into red blood cells. Healthy adult humans (n = 160) were randomized to receive 6 g of fish oil, 6 g of fish oil plus a multivitamin, 3 g of fish oil plus a multivitamin or a placebo daily for 16 weeks. Treatment with 6 g of fish oil, with or without a daily multivitamin, led to higher eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) composition at endpoint. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) composition was unchanged following treatment. The long chain LC n-3 PUFA index was only higher, compared to placebo, in the group receiving the combination of 6 g of fish oil and the multivitamin. Analysis by gender revealed that all treatments increased EPA incorporation in females while, in males, EPA was only significantly increased by the 6 g fish oil multivitamin combination. There was considerable individual variability in the red blood cell incorporation of EPA and DHA at endpoint. Gender contributed to a large proportion of this variability with females generally showing higher LC n-3 PUFA composition at endpoint. In conclusion, the incorporation of LC n-3 PUFA into red blood cells was influenced by dosage, the concurrent intake of vitamin/minerals and gender.
Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, Australia. apipingas@swin.edu.au.
Andrew
A
Pipingas
Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, Australia. robyn_cockerell@hotmail.com.
Robyn
R
Cockerell
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia. nataliegrima@gmail.com.
Natalie
N
Grima
Metabolic Research Unit, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Melbourne 3216, Australia. andrew.sinclair@deakin.edu.au.
Andrew
A
Sinclair
Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, Australia. cstough@gmail.com.
Con
C
Stough
Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, Australia. ascholey@swin.edu.au.
Andrew
A
Scholey
NatMed-Research Unit, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW 2480, Australia. stephen.myers@scu.edu.au.
Stephen
S
Myers
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia. kevin.croft@uwa.edu.au.
Kevin
K
Croft
National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Hawthorn 3122, Australia. asali@niim.com.au.
Avni
A
Sali
Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, Australia. mpase@swin.edu.au.
Matthew P
MP
Pase
D000368:Aged; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005395:Fish Oils; D014815:Vitamins; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid