Purified eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids have differential effects on serum lipids and lipoproteins, LDL particle size, glucose, and insulin in mildly hyperlipidemic men123

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ABSTRACT

Background:

Regular consumption of n−3 fatty acids of marine origin can improve serum lipids and reduce cardiovascular risk.

Objective:

This study aimed to determine whether eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids have differential effects on serum lipids and lipoproteins, glucose, and insulin in humans.

Design:

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of parallel design, 59 overweight, nonsmoking, mildly hyperlipidemic men were randomly assigned to receive 4 g purified EPA, DHA, or olive oil (placebo) daily while continuing their usual diets for 6 wk.

Results:

Fifty-six men aged 48.8 ± 1.1 y completed the study. Relative to those in the olive oil group, triacylglycerols fell by 0.45 ± 0.15 mmol/L (≈20%; P = 0.003) in the DHA group and by 0.37 ± 0.14 mmol/L (≈18%; P = 0.012) in the EPA group. Neither EPA nor DHA had any effect on total cholesterol. LDL, HDL, and HDL2 cholesterol were not affected significantly by EPA, but HDL3 cholesterol decreased significantly (6.7%; P = 0.032). Although HDL cholesterol was not significantly increased by DHA (3.1%), HDL2 cholesterol increased by ≈29% (P = 0.004). DHA increased LDL cholesterol by 8% (P = 0.019). Adjusted LDL particle size increased by 0.25 ± 0.08 nm (P = 0.002) with DHA but not with EPA. EPA supplementation increased plasma and platelet phospholipid EPA but reduced DHA. DHA supplementation increased DHA and EPA in plasma and platelet phospholipids. Both EPA and DHA increased fasting insulin significantly. EPA, but not DHA, tended to increase fasting glucose, but not significantly so.

Conclusions:

EPA and DHA had differential effects on lipids, fatty acids, and glucose metabolism in overweight men with mild hyperlipidemia.

KEY WORDS

Eicosapentaenoic acid
docosahexaenoic acid
EPA
DHA
hyperlipidemia
fish oil
n−3 fatty acids
lipids
LDL particle size
glucose metabolism
insulin metabolism
men

Cited by (0)

1

From the Department of Medicine, The University of Western Australia and The West Australian Heart Research Institute, Perth, and the Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

2

Supported by a grant (Studies in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease) from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. Purified eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids and olive oil capsules were kindly provided by the Fish Oil Test Materials Program and the US National Institutes of Health.

3

Address reprint requests to TA Mori, University Department of Medicine, Medical Research Foundation Building, Box X 2213 GPO, Perth, Western Australia 6847. E-mail: [email protected].