title: The Effect of n-3 Fatty Acids on Small Dense Low-Density Lipoproteins in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Intervention Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a high risk of cardiovascular disease. Small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) particles are particularly atherogenic. Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may have a beneficial effect on numbers of sdLDL particles, and the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of n-3 PUFA on plasma levels of sdLDL in patients with ESRD.
  
  
  METHODS
  ESRD patients with cardiovascular disease (n = 161) on chronic hemodialysis were randomized to treatment with 1.7 g of n-3 PUFA (n = 81) or 2 g of placebo (olive oil; n = 80) for 3 months. The study was double-blinded. Densities of LDL and percentages of sdLDL (sdLDL%) of total LDL were measured before and after intervention. On the basis of sdLDL%, patients were classified as having lipid pattern A, I (intermediate), or B defined by a successive increase in sdLDL concentration and decrease in lipid particle size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  n-3 PUFAs significantly reduced triglycerides. However, LDL cholesterol remained unchanged. In the n-3 group, the LDL density did not change significantly during follow-up. Similarly, the LDL density remained unchanged in the placebo group. In the n-3 group, the sdLDL% was 34% at baseline and unchanged at follow-up. At baseline 71% had LDL pattern A, 9% had pattern I, and 20% had pattern B, and none of these patterns were significantly changed by n-3 PUFA supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary supplementation with 1.7 g of n-3 PUFA had no effect on LDL density or sdLDL levels in patients with ESRD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gustav V B
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: My
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strandhave
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Cardiology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kaj A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: jeppe.hagstrup.christensen@rn.dk.
authors.forename: Jeppe H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3