title: Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the primary omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, have been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the independent effects of EPA and DHA on lipid and apolipoprotein levels, as well as on inflammatory biomarkers of CVD risk, using doses often used in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A blinded, randomized 6-week trial was performed in 121 healthy, normolipidemic subjects who received olive oil placebo 6g/d, EPA 600mg/d, EPA 1800mg/d, or DHA 600mg/d. The EPA was derived from genetically modified yeast.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects tolerated the supplements well with no safety issues; and the expected treatment-specific increases in plasma EPA and DHA levels were observed. Compared to placebo, the DHA group had significant decreases in postprandial triglyceride (TG) concentrations (-20%, -52.2mg/dL, P=0.03), significant increases in fasting and postprandial low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (+18.4%, 17.1mg/dL, P=0.001), with no significant changes in inflammatory biomarkers. No significant effects were observed in the EPA 600mg/d group. The high-dose EPA group had significant decreases in lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 concentrations (Lp-PLA2) (-14.1%, -21.4ng/mL, P=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The beneficial effects of EPA 1800mg/d on CVD risk reduction may relate in part to the lowering of Lp-PLA2without adversely affecting LDL-C. In contrast, DHA decreased postprandial TG, but raised LDL-C. Our observations indicate that these dietary fatty acids have divergent effects on cardiovascular risk markers.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Associates, Boston, MA, USA; Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ivor B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Asztalos
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Associates, Boston, MA, USA; Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Joi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gleason
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Associates, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sakine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sever
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Associates, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Reyhan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gedik
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Bela F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Asztalos
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Katalin V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Associates, Boston, MA, USA; Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dansinger
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamon-Fava
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Associates, Boston, MA, USA; Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: ernst.schaefer@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Ernst J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015415:Biomarkers; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D054467:Phospholipases A2
keywords: Fish oils; Lp-PLA(2); Omega-3 fatty acids; Triglycerides