Stearidonic Acid-Enriched Soybean Oil Increased the Omega-3 Index, an Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Marker

• Published in: Lipids 2008-09, Vol.43 (9), p.805-811
• Main Authors: Harris, William S., Lemke, Shawna L., Hansen, Susan N., Goldstein, Daniel A., DiRienzo, Maureen A., Su, Hong, Nemeth, Margaret A., Taylor, Mary L., Ahmed, Gulam, George, Cherian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; biomarkers; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; dietary fat; docosahexaenoic acid; eicosapentaenoic acid; emerging diseases; Erythrocytes - chemistry; Esters; fatty acid composition; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Female; Genetically modified organisms; Glycine max; Health risks; Heart rate; human health; human nutrition; Humans; Laboratory tests; Life Sciences; Lipidology; Lipids; Male; Medical Biochemistry; Medicinal Chemistry; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Middle Aged; Neurochemistry; Nutrition; Omega‐3 fatty acids; Original Article; Risk Factors; Soybean oil; Soybean Oil - pharmacology; Soybeans; Stearidonic acid; transgenic plants
• ISSN: 0024-4201; 1558-9307
• DOI: 10.1007/s11745-008-3215-0

A plant source of omega-3 fatty acid (FA) that can raise tissue eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is needed. A soybean oil (SBO) containing approximately 20% stearidonic acid [SDA; the delta-6 desaturase product of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)] derived from genetically modified soybeans is under development. This study compared the effects of EPA to SDA-SBO on erythrocyte EPA + DHA levels (the omega-3 index). Overweight healthy volunteers (n = 45) were randomized to SDA-SBO (24 ml/day providing ~3.7 g SDA) or to regular SBO (control group) without or with EPA ethyl esters (~1 g/day) for 16 weeks. Serum lipids, blood pressure, heart rate, platelet function and safety laboratory tests were measured along with the omega-3 index. A per-protocol analysis was conducted on 33 subjects (11 per group). Compared to baseline, average omega-3 index levels increased 19.5% in the SDA group and 25.4% in the EPA group (p < 0.05 for both, vs. control). DHA did not change in any group. Relative to EPA, SDA increased RBC EPA with about 17% efficiency. No other clinical endpoints were affected by SDA or EPA treatment (vs. control). In conclusion, SDA-enriched SBO significantly raised the omega-3 index. Since EPA supplementation has been shown to raise the omega-3 index and to lower risk for cardiac events, SDA-SBO may be a viable plant-based alternative for providing meaningful intakes of cardioprotective omega-3 FAs.