EPA+DHA, but not ALA, Improved Lipids and Inflammation Status in Hypercholesterolemic Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Scope: To compare the effects of supplementary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)+docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) versus α-linolenic acid (ALA) on lipid profiles, inflammatory status, and fatty acid composition of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in hypercholesterolemic adults.

Methods and results: A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial is conducted to examine the effects of consumption of control oil, 4.2 g/d ALA, 7.2 g/d ALA, 1.8 g/d DHA+EPA, or 3.6 g/d EPA+DHA for 12 weeks on lipid profiles, fatty acid composition of PBMCs and in vitro production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by PBMCs in 123 subjects with hypercholesteremia. After the intervention, subjects who receive a low and high dose of DHA/EPA experience 11.99% and 15.78% decreases in triglycerides which is significantly different from that of the control group (p < 0.05). The in vitro study indicates that supplementation of high-dose DHA+EPA induces the greatest decrease of IL-6 production by PBMCs relative to other groups (p = 0.046). ALA intervention significantly increases the PBMCs composition of ALA but not EPA/DHA.

Conclusion: EPA+DHA, but not ALA, improves lipids and inflammation status in hypercholesterolemic adults. Supplementation of ALA does not increase the PBMCs composition of EPA/DHA in middle-aged to elderly Chinese.

Keywords: docosahexaenoic acid; double-blind; eicosapentaenoic acid; inflammation; lipids; placebo-controlled trial; α-linolenic acid.