Effect of n-3 fatty acids and statins on oxidative stress in statin-treated hypercholestorelemic and normocholesterolemic women

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 2011-07, Vol.217 (1), p.171-178
• Main Authors: Carrepeiro, Mariana Magalhães, Rogero, Marcelo Macedo, Bertolami, Marcelo Chiara, Botelho, Patrícia Borges, Castro, Natalia, Castro, Inar Alves
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; blood serum; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular system; catalase; cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; corn oil; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; EPA; Factorial; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - genetics; Lipids - chemistry; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; low density lipoprotein; malondialdehyde; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Omega; omega-3 fatty acids; Oxidative Stress; patients; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Placebos; Statin; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - blood; Vasodilator agents. Cerebral vasodilators; women
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2010.12.013

Abstract Introduction Although the combination of statins with n-3 fatty acids seems to be beneficial under the lipid profile aspect, there is little information about the interaction of these two compounds on oxidative stress. Objective Evaluate the interaction between statins and n-3 fatty acids on oxidative stress in women, using a 22 factorial design. Methods Forty-three women participated in this crossover design. They were separated into two groups in which 20 were under statin treatment for more than 6 months, and 23 were normolipidemic. Within each group, half of the patients received capsules containing 2.4 g/day of a mixture of EPA and DHA for 6 weeks, while the other half received a mixture of soya and corn oil. After a period of 90 days of washout, the groups were switched, and received the supplementation for 6 weeks more. Results Statins reduced serum LDL and increased SOD expression. n-3 fatty acids increased the plasma malondialdehyde and SOD activity but reduced catalase expression ( p < 0.05). The interaction involving statins and n-3 fatty acids was nearly significant to the serum triacylglycerol reduction ( p = 0.054). Conclusion Combining statins and n-3 fatty acids is an excellent strategy to reduce plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentration in women. However, n-3 fatty acids increased the oxidative stress and the pleiotropic effect of statins seemed to be not enough to counterbalance this result. Our data also suggested that the mechanism by which n-3 fatty acids interfere in oxidative stress can be associated with antioxidant enzymes expression and activity.