The consumption of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled parallel-design trial was conducted to assess the beneficial effects of algal oil supplement on cardiovascular risk factors
39 men and 40 women
4 weeks
Subjects were randomized to receive 4 g/day of the algal oil (containing 1.5 g DHA and 0.6 g docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)) or placebo respectively.
The plasma concentrations of arachidonic acid, adrenic acid, DPA and DHA were significantly increased by 21, 11, 11 and 88 mg/L, respectively in the DHA/DPA oil group compared to placebo (see Fig. 1). The proportions of DPA and DHA in erythrocyte phospholipids were increased by 78% and 27% in DHA/DPA supplemented group.
The serum total, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels were found to increase by 0.33mmol/L (7.3%), 0.26mmol/L (10.4%) and 0.14mmol/L (9.0%) in the DHA/DPA supplemented group compared to placebo (p for all ≤ 0.001).
Furthermore the Factor VII (FVII) coagulant activity was also found to increase by 12 % in the DHA/DPA treatment group (p=0.006).
DHA/DPA oil supplementation is generally well tolerated and results in significant reductions in the cardiovascular risk factors
Sanders TA, et al. Influence of an algal triacylglycerol containing docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6) on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men and women. Br J Nutr. 2006; 95(3):525-531.
