title: Omega-3 fatty acid therapy dose-dependently and significantly decreased triglycerides and improved flow-mediated dilation, however, did not significantly improve insulin sensitivity in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental studies demonstrate that higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) improves insulin sensitivity, however, we reported that n-3 FA 2g therapy, most commonly used dosage did not significantly improve insulin sensitivity despite reducing triglycerides by 21% in patients. Therefore, we investigated the effects of different dosages of n-3 FA in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Age, sex, and body mass index were matched among groups. All patients were recommended to maintain a low fat diet. Forty-four patients (about 18 had metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes mellitus) in each group were given placebo, n-3 FA 1 (O1), 2 (O2), or 4 g (O4), respectively daily for 2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  n-3 FA therapy dose-dependently and significantly decreased triglycerides and triglycerides/HDL cholesterol and improved flow-mediated dilation, compared with placebo (by ANOVA). However, each n-3 FA therapy did not significantly decrease high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, compared with placebo. O1 significantly increased insulin levels and decreased insulin sensitivity (determined by QUICKI) and O2 significantly decreased plasma adiponectin levels relative to baseline measurements. Of note, when compared with placebo, each n-3 FA therapy did not significantly change insulin, glucose, adiponectin, glycated hemoglobin levels and insulin sensitivity (by ANOVA). We observed similar results in a subgroup of patients with the metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  n-3 FA therapy dose-dependently and significantly decreased triglycerides and improved flow-mediated dilation. Nonetheless, n-3 FA therapy did not significantly improve acute-phase reactants and insulin sensitivity in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, regardless of dosages.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea; Gachon Cardiovascular Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Pyung Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea; Gachon Cardiovascular Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kwangk@gilhospital.com.
authors.forename: Kwang Kon
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokko Memorial Clinic, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yonghee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea; Gachon Cardiovascular Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seungik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea; Gachon Cardiovascular Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyounghoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea; Gachon Cardiovascular Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea; Gachon Cardiovascular Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eak Kyun
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Hypertriglyceridemia; Insulin resistance; Omega-3 fatty acids