title: Omega-3 fatty acids improve postprandial lipemia and associated endothelial dysfunction in healthy individuals - a randomized cross-over trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postprandial elevation of triglycerides impairs endothelial function and contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on postprandial endothelial function and lipid profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers [10] were given supplementation at 4g/day omega-3 fatty acids (or were not treated) for 4 weeks in a randomised crossover study. Postprandial levels of various lipids were monitored and endothelial function assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation during fasting and after a standard cookie test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Omega-3 fatty acids reduced postprandial endothelial dysfunction compared with the control diet (flow-mediated dilation at 4h=-0.5±1.2 vs. -2.0±1.6%, P=0.03). Postprandial levels of triglycerides, apolipoprotein B-48, and remnant lipoprotein-cholesterol increased in untreated subjects, peaked at 2-4h, and returned to baseline at 8h, whereas low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels did not change. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids significantly suppressed postprandial elevation of triglycerides (incremental area under the curve=220±209 vs. 374±216mg/h/dL, P=0.04) and remnant lipoprotein-cholesterol (incremental area under the curve=21.7±13.8 vs. 13.3±12.9mg/h/dL, P=0.04). Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids significantly suppressed the increase in triglyceride content in chylomicrons as well as in very-low-density lipoproteins from baseline to 4h after the cookie test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Omega-3 fatty acids significantly decreased postprandial triglyceride elevation and postprandial endothelial dysfunction, suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids may have vascular protective effects in postprandial state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan. Electronic address: miyoshit@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.affiliation: Center of Ultrasonic Diagnostics, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oe
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazufumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunihisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Endothelial dysfunction; Omega-3 fatty acid; Triglyceride