title: Omega-3 fatty acids for atypical antipsychotic-associated hypertriglyceridemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this open-label, preliminary study was to assess the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for treating dyslipidemia associated with use of atypical antipsychotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants treated with atypical antipsychotics who had hypertriglyceridemia (> 200 mg/dL) and/or hypercholesterolemia (> 250 mg/dL) were enrolled in an open trial and received omega-3 fatty acids (Lovaza) for up to 16 weeks. Serum lipid profiles were re-assessed at 8 and 16 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight participants with dyslipidemia enrolled in the trial; 16 were evaluable with post-baseline assessments. There was an average decrease in triglyceride levels of 54.13 ± 83.44 mg/dL (P = .04). A more pronounced benefit of omega-3 supplementation was observed in participants with elevated triglyceride levels at baseline (> 200 mg/dL), compared with those with elevated cholesterol values but normal or more modestly elevated triglyceride levels at enrollment. Participants with hypertriglyceridemia at baseline (n = 10, > 200 mg/dL) experienced a mean decrease in triglyceride levels of 75.8 ± 28.71 mg/dL, a significantly larger decrease than was observed among all participants (P = .005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Omega-3 supplementation reduced triglyceride levels but not levels of total cholesterol. Recruitment and retention in this study was challenging, and could indicate a lack of screening for dyslipidemia among atypical antipsychotic users/prescribers or could reflect the over-the- counter availability of omega-3 fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: Center for Women's Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. E-mail: mfreeman@partners.org.
authors.forename: Marlene P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McInerney
authors.forename: Alexandra Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Sosinsky
authors.forename: Molly A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowski
authors.forename: Lee S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002784:Cholesterol; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C405603:Omacor