Docosahexenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease in Men With High Triglycerides

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke are the leading causes of mortality in the United States, accounting for more than 38% of all deaths. Elevated total- and LDL- cholesterol, number of total and small dense LDL particles, triacylglycerols, and low HDL-C are established independent risk factors for the development of CVD. Additional novel blood lipid markers used as risk factors for CVD include, increased plasma concentration of remnant like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C), decreased ratio between plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acd (AA), and decreased omega-3 index (sum of EPA and DHA as a percentage of total fatty acid content) of the red blood cells.

Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be cardio-protective; these diets decreased inflammation, platelet aggregation, cardiac arrhythmias, triglycerides, number of total LDL and small dense LDL particles, and increased omega-3 index, endothelial relaxation and atherosclerotic plaque stability. Most of the earlier studies regarding the effects of long chain n-3 PUFA on blood lipids were conducted with fish oils which contain a mixture of EPA and DHA. Recently a number of studies have been conducted with EPA and DHA individually. Results from studies with individual fatty acids show that EPA and DHA have similar effects on some of the lipid parameters, but they are assimilated to a different concentration in tissues and have different effects on lipoprotein particle size, heart rate and blood pressure. The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of DHA supplementation on the above three risk factors.

Inclusion criteria

• fasting serum triglyceride values of 150-400 mg/dL
• total cholesterol < 300 mg/dL
• LDL-cholesterol < 220 mg/dL
• BMI between 22 and 35 Kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• anti-inflammatory medications including steroids
• antihypertensives
• non sulfonyl urea medications for diabetes mellitus
• drugs that alter serum triacylglycerols and HDL-C levels (i.e. fibrates)
• niacin supplements
• consumers of illegal substances
• consumers of more than 5 drinks of alcohol per week
• more than one fish meal per week
• dietary supplements of fish oil, flaxseed oil or vitamin C or E