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Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation improves fasting and postprandial lipid profiles in hypertriglyceridemic men^1,2,3,4

¹ From the Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, and Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, CA (DSK, DS, and MV); the Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, Sacramento, CA (DS); and the Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA (BEM)

Background: The effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the mean size and concentrations of VLDL, LDL, and HDL subclasses have not been previously studied.

Objective: We determined the effects of DHA supplementation on the concentrations of apoproteins; large, medium, and small VLDL, LDL, and HDL particles; and the mean diameters of these particles in fasting and postprandial plasma.

Design: Hypertriglyceridemic men aged 39–66 y (n = 34) participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel study. They received no supplements for the first 8 d and received either 7.5 g DHA oil/d (3 g DHA/d) or olive oil (placebo) for the last 90 d. Lipoprotein particle diameters and concentrations were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Results: DHA supplementation for 45 d significantly (P < 0.05) decreased concentrations of fasting triacylglycerol (24%), large VLDL (92%), and intermediate-density lipoproteins (53%) and the mean diameter of VLDL particles (11.1 nm). It elevated concentrations of LDL cholesterol (12.6%), small VLDL particles (133%), and large LDL particles (120%) and the mean diameter of LDL particles (0.6 nm) in fasting plasma. Similar changes were observed for area under the curve for postprandial samples (0–6 h); however, the number of small dense LDL particles decreased significantly (21%), and the change in LDL cholesterol was not significant. Continued supplementation with DHA beyond 45 d caused no further changes; placebo treatment altered none of the responses tested.

Conclusion: DHA supplementation may improve cardiovascular health by lowering concentrations of triacylglycerols and small, dense LDL particles.

Key Words: Triacylglycerol • postprandial lipemia • cholesterol • VLDL • LDL • HDL • apoproteins • heart rate • cardiovascular disease • n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

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				D. S. Kelley, D. Siegel, M. Vemuri, G. H. Chung, and B. E. Mackey Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation Decreases Remnant-Like Particle-Cholesterol and Increases the (n-3) Index in Hypertriglyceridemic Men J. Nutr., January 1, 2008; 138(1): 30 - 35. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]