The aim of the study was to assess fasting lipid responses to DHA supplement in men and women with below-average levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.
57 men and women with fasting HDL levels of ≤ 44 mg/dl (in men) and ≤ 54 mg/dl (in women) were enrolled into the study.
The subjects were randomized to receive 1.52 g/day DHA from DHA rich algal triglycerides or olive oil as a control respectively.
The study was carried out for a period of 6 weeks.
DHA supplement showed a significant change in the triglyceride levels, total and low density cholesterol levels in comparison with placebo [-43(DHA) vs. -14 (controls) mg/dL, p=0.015], [12 vs. 3 mg/dL; p=0.021] and [17 vs. 3 mg/dL; p=0.001], respectively.
Furthermore the percentage changes were also found to be significantly higher in DHA group in comparison to the placebo group and [-21%(DHA) vs. -7% (controls), p=0.009] in triglycerides, total [6% vs. 2%; p=0.018] and low-density lipoprotein [12% vs. 3%; p=0.001] cholesterol concentrations.
The triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio [-1.33 vs. -0.50, p=0.010], also significantly reduced in DHA supplemented group in comparison to the control group.
A significant reduction in the percentage of LDL cholesterol carried by small, dense particles was found in the DHA supplemented group (changes =-10% vs. -3%, p=0.025) in comparison to the placebo group.
In patients with below-average HDL cholesterol concentrations, supplementation with DHA raised the LDL cholesterol level but showed favorable effects on triglycerides, the triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio and the fraction of LDL cholesterol carried by small, dense particles.
Maki KC, Van Elswyk ME, McCarthy D, et al. Lipid responses to a dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplement in men and women with below average levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005;24(3):189-199.
