Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
NCT Number: NCT07289919
This randomized, single-blind, crossover clinical trial aims to evaluate Echium oil and Ahiflower® oil as sustainable, plant-based alternatives to marine oils for omega-3 supplementation. Although fish oil is the primary dietary source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), its use as a dietary supplementation presents several drawbacks, including high cost, potential contamination, limited global supply, and sustainability concerns. Echium and Ahiflower oils are naturally rich in stearidonic acid (SDA), a metabolic intermediate that bypasses the rate-limiting Δ6-desaturase step in the omega-3 pathway, potentially enhancing the conversion to EPA.
Fifteen participants will undergo three 8-week intervention phases-Echium oil (15 g/day), Ahiflower oil (15 g/day), or EPA capsules (2.34 g/day)-separated by four-week washout periods. Blood samples will be collected before and after each phase to measure fatty acid profiles in plasma, plasma fractions, and erythrocytes using GC-MS. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters will also be assessed. The study seeks to determine whether SDA-rich plant oils can effectively increase EPA levels in humans and potentially reduce the reliance on marine oils for cardiovascular health benefits.
This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.
18 year–30 year
All sexes
Interventional
Not applicable
São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes
Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Participants consume 15 g/day of Echium oil, incorporated into meals, during one 8-week phase.
Other names: seed oil from Echium plantagineum
Participants consume 15 g/day of Ahiflower® oil, incorporated into meals, during one 8-week phase.
Other names: Buglossoides arvensis, Lithospermum arvense, corn gromwell
Participants consume three EPA capsules daily (totaling 2.34 g/day), taken with meals, during one 8-week phase.
Other names: Omega-3, IPE
Time frame: Baseline and after each 8-week intervention phase
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) concentrations will be determined from blood fractions (plasma, plasma subfractions, and erythrocytes). Lipids will be extracted and derivatized to obtain fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), which will then be analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Measurements will be performed at baseline and after each 8-week intervention phase (Echium oil, Ahiflower® oil, and EPA capsules) to assess the efficiency of omega-3 conversion and incorporation under each supplementation condition
University of Sao Paulo
Other
Exploring Sustainable Alternatives to Marine Oils: A Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Echium and Ahiflower Oils for Omega-3 Supplementation.
OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.
View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.
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