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

• Published in: Nutrients 2018-10, Vol.10 (10), p.1460
• Main Authors: Sparkes, Cassandra, Gibson, Robert, Sinclair, Andrew, Else, Paul L, Meyer, Barbara J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Cholesterol, VLDL - blood; DHA; 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; Lipoproteins - blood; Lipoproteins, VLDL - blood; Particle Size; plasma lipids; premenopausal women; Premenopause; Triglycerides - blood; Tuna; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu10101460

Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid ( -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 -3 LCPUFA as HiDHA™ tuna oil or placebo (Sunola oil) capsules for 8 weeks. Supplementation with 1 g/day -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 ( ² = 0.20, = 0.003). A weak dose-dependent shift in HDL (but not LDL) particle size was identified ( ² = 0.05, = 0.04). The results of this study indicate that DHA-rich -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.