Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T13:21:07.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Microalgal docosahexaenoic acid decreases plasma triacylglycerol in normolipidaemic vegetarians: a randomised trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Julia Geppert ,
Veronika Kraft ,
Hans Demmelmair  and
Berthold Koletzko
Julia Geppert
Affiliation:
Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, DR. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Lindwurmstraβe 4, D-80337 Munich, Germany
Veronika Kraft
Affiliation:
Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, DR. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Lindwurmstraβe 4, D-80337 Munich, Germany
Hans Demmelmair
Affiliation:
Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, DR. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Lindwurmstraβe 4, D-80337 Munich, Germany
Berthold Koletzko*
Affiliation:
Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, DR. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Lindwurmstraβe 4, D-80337 Munich, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: Professor Berthold Koletzko, fax +49 89 5160 3336, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Triacylglycerol (TG) lowering effects of n−3 long-chain PUFA (n−3 LCPUFA) have been repeatedly demonstrated, but studies investigating the individual effects of EPA or DHA on plasma TG and lipoproteins in man are rare. The effects of a new DHA-rich, almost EPA-free microalgae oil (Ulkenia sp.) on plasma lipids and several safety parameters were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design intervention study. Normolipidaemic vegetarians (eighty-seven females, twenty-seven males) consumed daily microalgae oil (0·94g DHA/d) or olive oil (as placebo) for 8 weeks. DHA supplementation decreased plasma TG by 23% from 1·08 (sem 0·07) to 0·83 (sem 0·04) mmol/l (p<0·001). Absolute TG decreases after DHA supplementation were inversely correlated to baseline TG concentrations (r −0·627, p<0·001). Plasma total, LDL and HDL cholesterol increased significantly in the DHA group, resulting in lower TG:HDL cholesterol and unchanged LDL:HDL and total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratios. The intake of DHA-rich microalgae oil did not result in any physiologically relevant changes of safety and haemostatic factors. In conclusion, DHA-rich oil from microalgae Ulkenia sp. was well tolerated and can be considered a suitable vegetarian source of n−3 LCPUFA. Although DHA supplementation improved some CHD risk factors (plasma TG, TG:HDL cholesterol ratio), LDL cholesterol increased. Therefore, the overall effects of this intervention on CHD risk deserve further investigation.

Keywords

Docosahexaenoic acidMicroalgae oilPlasma lipidsTriacylglycerol
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 95 , Issue 4 , April 2006 , pp. 779 - 786
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

References

Abbey, M, Clifton, P, Kestin, M, Belling, B & Nestel, PEffect of fish oil on lipoproteins, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase, and lipid transfer protein activity in humans. Arteriosclerosis (1990) 10, 85–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Agren, JJ, Hanninen, O, Julkunen, A, Fogelholm, L, Vidgren, H, Schwab, U, Pynnonen, O & Uusitupa, MFish diet, fish oil and docosahexaenoic acid rich oil lower fasting and postprandial plasma lipid levels. Eur J Clin Nutr (1996) 50, 765–771.Google ScholarPubMed
Austin, MA, Hokanson, JE & Edwards, KLHypertriglyceridemia as a cardiovascular risk factor. Am J Cardiol (1998) 81, 7B–12B.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonaa, KH, Bjerve, KS, Straume, B, Gram, IT & Thelle, DEffect of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids on blood pressure in hypertension. A population-based intervention trial from the Tromso study. N Engl J Med (1990) 322, 795–801.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buckley, R, Shewring, B, Turner, R, Yaqoob, P & Minihane, AMCirculating triacylglycerol and apoE levels in response to EPA and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in adult human subjects. Br J Nutr (2004) 92, 477–483.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Conquer, JA & Holub, BJSupplementation with an algae source of docosahexaenoic acid increases (n-3) fatty acid status and alters selected risk factors for heart disease in vegetarian subjects. J Nutr (1996) 126, 3032–3039.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Conquer, JA & Holub, BJEffect of supplementation with different doses of DHA on the levels of circulating DHA as non-esterified fatty acid in subjects of Asian Indian background. J Lipid Res (1998) 39, 286–292.Google ScholarPubMed
Davidson, MH, Maki, KC, Kalkowski, J, Schaefer, EJ, Torri, SA & Drennan, KBEffects of docosahexaenoic acidon serum lipoproteins in patients with combined hyperlipidemia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Am Coll Nutr (1997) 16, 236–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, WR, Zech, LA & Stacpoole, PWApolipoprotein B metabolism in hypertriglyceridemic diabetic patients administered either a fish oil- or vegetable oil-enriched diet. J Lipid Res (1998) 39, 388–401.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Friedewald, WT, Levy, RI & Fredrickson, DSEstimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem (1972) 18, 499–502.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gaziano, JM, Hennekens, CH, O'Donnell, CJ, Breslow, JL & Buring, JE (1997) Fasting triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and risk of myocardial infarction. Circulation. 96 2520–2525CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Geppert, J, Kraft, V, Demmelmair, H & Koletzko, B (2005) Docosahexaenoicacid supplementation in vegetarians effectively increases omega-3 index: a randomized trial. Lipids. 40 870–814.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffin, BAThe effect of n-3 fatty acids on low density lipoprotein subfractions. Lipids (2001) 36 S91–S97CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grimsgaard, S, Bonaa, KH, Hansen, JB & Myhre, ES (1998) Effects of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on hemodynamics in humans. Am J Clin Nutr.68 52 – 59CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grimsgaard, S, Bonaa, KH, Hansen, JB & Nordoy, A (1997) Highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in humans have similar triacylglycerol-lowering effects but divergent effects on serum fatty acids. Am J Clin Nutr. 66 649 – 659CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grover, SA, Coupal, L & Hu, XP (1995) Identifying adults at increased risk of coronary disease. How well do the current cholesterol guidelines work?. JAMA. 274 801 – 806CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grover, SA, Palmer, CS & Coupal, LSerum lipid screening to identify high-risk individuals for coronary death. The results of the Lipid Research Clinics prevalence cohort. Arch Intern Med. (1994) 154 679 – 684CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harris, WS (1997) N-3 fatty acids and serum lipoproteins: human studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 65.1645S – 1654SCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hess, D, Keller, HE, Oberlin, B, Bonfanti, R & Schuep, W (1991) Simultaneous determination of retinol, tocopherols, carotenes and lycopene in plasma by means of high-performance liquid chromatography on reversed phase. Int J Vit Nutr Res. 61 232 – 238Google ScholarPubMed
Hodis, HN (1999) Triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnant particles and risk of atherosclerosis. Circulation. 99 2852 – 2854CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hokanson, JE & Austin, MA (1996) Plasma triglyceride level is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level: a meta-analysis of population-based prospective studies. J Cardiovasc Risk. 3 213 – 219CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Illingworth, DR, Harris, WS & Connor, WE (1984) Inhibition of low density lipoprotein synthesis by dietary omega-3 fatty acids in humans. Arteriosclerosis 4 270 – 275CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Inagaki, M & Harris, WSChanges in lipoprotein composition in hypertriglyceridemic patients taking cholesterol-free fish oil supplements. Atherosclerosis (1990) 82 237 – 246CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kinosian, B, Glick, H & Garland, G (1994) Cholesterol and coronary heart disease: predicting risks by levels and ratios. Ann Intern Med. 121 641 – 647CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kinosian, B, Glick, H, Preiss, L & Puder, KL (1995) Cholesterol and coronary heart disease: predicting risks in men by changes in levels and ratios. J Invest Med. 43 443 – 450Google Scholar
Knapp, HR & FitzGerald, GA (1989) The antihypertensive effects of fish oil. A controlled study of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements in essential hypertension. N Engl J Med. 320 1037 – 1043CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leigh-Firbank, EC, Minihane, AM, Leake, DS, Wright, JW, Murphy, MC, Griffin, BA & Williams, CM (2002) Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from fish oils: differential associations with lipid responses. Br J Nutr. 87 435 – 445CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindsey, S, Pronczuk, A & Hayes, KC (1992) Low density lipoprotein from humans supplemented with n-3 fatty acids depresses both LDL receptor activity and LDLr mRNA abundance in HepG2 cells. J Lipid Res. 33 647 – 658CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lu, G, Windsor, SL & Harris, WS (1999) Omega-3 fatty acids alter lipoprotein subfraction distributions and the in vitro conversion of very low density lipoproteins to low density lipoproteins. J Nutr Biochem. 10 151 – 158CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lungershausen, YK, Abbey, M, Nestel, PJ & Howe, PRC (1994) Reduction of blood pressure and plasma triglycerides by omega-3 fatty acids in treated hypertensives. J Hypertens. 12 1041 – 1045CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mori, TA, Bao, DQ, Burke, V, Puddey, IB & Beilin, LJ (1999) Docosahexaenoic acid but not eicosapentaenoic acid lowers ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in humans. Hypertension 34 253 – 260CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mori, TA, Burke, V, Puddey, IB, Watts, GF, O'Neal, DN, Best, tJD & Beilin, LJ (2000) Purified eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids have differential effects on serum lipids and lipoproteins, LDL particle size, glucose, and insulin in mildly hyperlipidemic men. Am J Clin Nutr. 71 1085 – 1094CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nelson, GJ, Schmidt, PC, Bartolini, GL, Kelley, DS & Kyle, D (1997) The effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on plasma lipoproteins and tissue fatty acid composition in humans. Lipids 32 1137 – 1146CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nestel, PJ (2000) Fish oil and cardiovascular disease: lipids and arterial function.Am J Clin Nutr. 71 228 – 231CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nestel, P, Shige, H, Pomeroy, M, Cehun, M, Abbey, M & Raederstorff, D (2002) The n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increase systemic arterial compliance in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 76 326 – 330CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rambjor, GS, Walen, AI, Windsor, SL & Harris, WS (1996) Eicosapentaenoic acid is primarily responsible for hypotriglyceridemic effect of fish oil in humans. Lipids. 31 S45 – S49CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanders, TAB & Hinds, A (1992) The influence of a fish oil high in docosahexaenoic acid on plasma lipoprotein and vitamin E concentrations and haemostatic function in healthy male volunteers. Br J Nutr. 68 163 – 173CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schectman, G, Boerboom, LE, Hannah, J, Howard, BV, Mueller, RA & Kissebah, AH (1996) Dietary fish oil decreases low-density-lipoprotein clearance in nonhuman primates. Am J Clin Nutr. 64 215 – 221CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stark, KD & Holub, BJ (2004) Differential eicosapentaenoic acid elevations and altered cardiovascular disease risk factor responses after supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid in postmenopausal women receiving and not receiving hormone replacement therapy. Am J Clin Nutr. 79 765 – 773CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Surette, ME, Whelan, J, Lu, GP, Broughton, KS & Kinsella, JE (1992) Dependence on dietary cholesterol for n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-induced changes in plasma cholesterol in the Syrian hamster. J Lipid Res. 33 263 – 271CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Theobald, HE, Chowienczyk, PJ, Whittall, R, Humphries, SE & Sanders, TAB (2004) LDL cholesterol-raising effect of low-dose docosahexaenoic acid in middle-aged men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 79 558 – 563CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Toft, I, Bonaa, KH, Ingebretsen, OC, Nordoy, A & Jenssen, T (1995) Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on glucose homeostasis and blood pressure in essential hypertension: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 123 911 – 918CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed