Effect of Low Dose Docosahexaenoic Acid-Rich Fish Oil on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Pre-Menopausal Women: A Dose⁻Response Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Nutrients. 2018 Oct 8;10(10):1460. doi: 10.3390/nu10101460.

Abstract

Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) supplementation has been shown to improve plasma lipid profiles in men and post-menopausal women, however, data for pre-menopausal women are lacking. The benefits of intakes less than 1 g/day have not been well studied, and dose⁻response data is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low doses of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich tuna oil on plasma triglyceride (TG) lowering in pre-menopausal women, and investigate if low dose DHA-rich tuna oil supplementation would increase the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle sizes. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted, in which 53 healthy pre-menopausal women with mildly elevated plasma TG levels consumed 0, 0.35, 0.7, or 1 g/day n-3 LCPUFA as HiDHA™ tuna oil or placebo (Sunola oil) capsules for 8 weeks. Supplementation with 1 g/day n-3 LCPUFA, but not lower doses, reduced plasma TG by 23% in pre-menopausal women. This was reflected in a dose-dependent reduction in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG (R² = 0.20, p = 0.003). A weak dose-dependent shift in HDL (but not LDL) particle size was identified (R² = 0.05, p = 0.04). The results of this study indicate that DHA-rich n-3 LCPUFA supplementation at a dose of 1 g/day is an effective TG-lowering agent and increases HDL particle size in pre-menopausal women.

Keywords: DHA; lipoproteins; plasma lipids; premenopausal women.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood*
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, VLDL / blood*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / blood
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Fish Oils / blood
  • Fish Oils / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Lipids / blood
  • Lipoproteins / blood*
  • Lipoproteins, VLDL / blood
  • Particle Size
  • Premenopause*
  • Triglycerides / blood*
  • Tuna
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Cholesterol, VLDL
  • Fish Oils
  • Lipids
  • Lipoproteins
  • Lipoproteins, VLDL
  • Triglycerides
  • very low density lipoprotein triglyceride
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids