The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between plasma n-3 PUFA composition and weight status. A total of 124 adults, stratified by weight status: healthy weight (n 21), overweight (n 40) and obese (n 63) were recruited. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measures and body composition were collected. Plasma fatty acid composition was determined by GC. BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference were inversely correlated with n-3 PUFA, EPA and DHA (P < 0·05 for all) in the obese group. Obese individuals had significantly lower plasma concentrations of total n-3 PUFA, compared with healthy-weight individuals (4·53 (sd 1·11) v. 5·25 (sd 1·43) %). When subjects were pooled and stratified into quartiles of total n-3 PUFA, a significant inverse trend was found for BMI (P = 0·002), waist circumference and hip circumference (P = 0·01 and P < 0·001 respectively). Higher plasma levels of total n-3 PUFA are associated with a healthier BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference. Our findings suggest that n-3 PUFA may play an important role in weight status and abdominal adiposity.

HCV treatment uptake was relatively high among this highly marginalized population of PWID. Potentially modifiable factors associated with treatment include drug use and social support.

No abstract

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker of low-grade sustained inflammation. Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma n-3 fatty acid concentration is related to hs-CRP concentration. A total of 124 free-living adults, were divided into tertiles of plasma hs-CRP (o1.0, 1.0-3.0 and 43.0 mg/l). Body composition and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Hs-CRP was analysed using immunoassays and fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography. Plasma hs-CRP concentration was negatively correlated with total n-3 fatty acids (P ¼ 0.05), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; P ¼ 0.002) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; P ¼ 0.01). The highest hs-CRP tertile (43.0 mg/l) had significantly lower concentrations of total n-3 fatty acids, EPA and DPA, when compared with the other tertiles (Po0.05). This study provides evidence that in healthy individuals, plasma n-3 fatty acid concentration is inversely related to hs-CRP concentration, a surrogate marker of CVD risk.

No abstract

Background: Red wine contains a naturally rich source of antioxidants, which may protect the body from oxidative stress, a determinant of age-related disease. The current study set out to determine the in vivo effects of moderate red wine consumption on antioxidant status and oxidative stress in the circulation.

Fish oils rich in (n-3) long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) can reduce circulating triglycerides and raise HDL-cholesterol. Phytosterols have been shown to reduce total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in normocholesterolemic and hyperlipidemic populations. We investigated the combined effects of phytosterols and (n-3) LCPUFA on plasma lipid profile in hyperlipidemic individuals. This study was a 3-wk randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 x 2 factorial trial in 4 parallel groups of 60 hyperlipidemic individuals. Subjects were randomized to receive either sunola oil or 1.4 g/d (n-3) LCPUFA capsules with or without 2 g phytosterols per day while maintaining their habitual diet. The combination of phytosterols and (n-3) LCPUFA reduced plasma total cholesterol by 13.3% (P = 0.001), which differed from (n-3) LCPUFA alone (P < 0.001). LDL-cholesterol concentrations followed the same pattern as that of plasma cholesterol with a 12.5% decrease (P = 0.002) in the combination group. The HDL-cholesterol concentration was increased by (n-3) LCPUFA (7.1%; P = 0.01) alone and in combination with phytosterols (8.6%; P = 0.04), whereas phytosterol treatment alone had no effect. Plasma triglyceride concentration was lowered by (n-3) LCPUFA (22.3%; P = 0.004) alone and in combination with phytosterols (25.9%; P = 0.005), whereas phytosterol treatment alone had no effect. In conclusion, the combined supplementation with phytosterols and (n-3) LCPUFA has both synergistic and complementary lipid-lowering effects in hyperlipidemic men and women.

People with a history of injecting drug use and chronic hepatitis C virus attending opioid substitution treatment and community health clinics can achieve adherence and responses to interferon-based therapy similar to other populations, despite injecting drugs at baseline. Younger age and adherence are predictive of improved response to hepatitis C virus therapy.