Dose-response effects of omega-3 fatty acids on triglycerides, inflammation, and endothelial function in healthy persons with moderate hypertriglyceridemia

Abstract

Background: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality at a dose of '1 g/d. Studies using higher doses have shown evidence of reduced inflammation and improved endothelial function. Few studies have compared these doses. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a nutritional dose of EPA+DHA (0.85 g/d) with those of a pharmaceutical dose (3.4 g/d) on serum triglycerides, inflammatory markers, and endothelial function in healthy subjects with moderately elevated triglycerides. Design: This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, 3-period crossover trial (8 wk of treatment, 6 wk of washout) that compared the effects of 0.85 and 3.4 g EPA+DHA/d in 23 men and 3 postmenopausal women with moderate hypertriglyceridemia (150-500 mg/dL). Results: The higher dose of EPA+DHA lowered triglycerides by 27% compared with placebo (mean 6 SEM: 173 6 17.5 compared with 237 6 17.5 mg/dL; P = 0.002), whereas no effect of the lower dose was observed on lipids. No effects on cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL), endothelial function [as assessed by flow-mediated dilation, peripheral arterial tonometry/EndoPAT (Itamar Medical Ltd, Caesarea, Israel), or Doppler measures of hyperemia], inflammatory markers (interleukin-1b, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-a, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), or the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes in isolated lymphocytes were observed. Conclusion: The higher dose (3.4 g/d) of EPA+DHA significantly lowered triglycerides, but neither dose improved endothelial function or inflammatory status over 8 wk in healthy adults with moderate hypertriglyceridemia. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials. gov as NCT00504309.Am J Clin Nutr 2011;93:243-52.

Administration of omega-3 fatty acids and Raloxifene to women at high risk of breast cancer: interim feasibility and biomarkers analysis from a clinical trial

“…This finding has been previously reported, although primarily in individuals with hypertriglyceridemia. 16,17 Our subjects, on the other hand, had normal serum triglyceride levels. We also observed a significant increase in HDL cholesterol following Lovaza administration (8% in women receiving Lovaza alone and 16% in those receiving the combination of Lovaza and Ral).…”

“…This is at variance with other reports in the literature where Lovaza was reported to either cause no change 16 or a minimal increase (1-3%) in HDL cholesterol. 17 IGF-I is a potent mitogen for breast cancer and has been postulated to be involved in mammary carcinogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis. 18,19 Elevated levels of circulating IGF-I have been shown to be a significant risk factor for premenopausal breast cancer.…”

Effect of Lowering the Glycemic Load With Canola Oil on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The reactive hyperemia index, as a marker of flowmediated vasodilatation, was measured with the EndoPAT system (Itamar Medical Ltd., Franklin, MA), which assesses the capillary blood refill to finger tips after a 5-min occlusion of the forearm with a cuff inflated to 50 mmHg above the participant's resting systolic blood pressure and expressed as a ratio of the blood flow in the opposite arm (18). Diet records were analyzed using a computer program (ESHA Food Processor SQL version 10.9; ESHA, Salem, OR) based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data (19) and international GI tables (20) using the bread scale (where bread = 100; for the glucose scale, bread scale values were multiplied by 0.71) (21) (Supplementary Table 1).…”

Impact of anti-inflammatory nutrients on obesity-associated metabolic-inflammation from childhood through to adulthood

“…Several intervention studies have shown variable results (78)(79)(80) . A well-powered study with 324 participants investigating the effect of LC n-3 PUFA supplementation showed favourable effects on circulating CRP and IL-6 concentrations, when compared with sunflower oil (78) .…”