NCT00728338

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

Effect of Docosahexenoic Acid (22:6n-3, DHA) Supplementation on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Hyperlipidemic Men

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: USDA, Western Human Nutrition Research Center · Federal
• Sex: Male
• Age: 39 Years – 66 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of supplementing diets of hyperlipidemic men with DHA (docosahexenoic acid) on risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We hypothesize that supplementing diets of hyperlipidemic men with DHA will decrease the plasma concentrations of CRP (C-reactive protein), inflammatory cytokines, and soluble adhesion molecules. We further hypothesize that DHA supplementation will decrease serum triglyceride concentrations and increase HDL concentration.

Detailed description

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.

Conditions

• Hypertriglyceridemia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Docosahexenoic acid (DHA)	The DHA group received 7.5 g/d DHA oil (DHA 3.0 g/d) which is produced in the microalga Crypthecodinium cohinii.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Olive oil	7.5 g olive oil/day

Timeline

• Start date: 2003-06-01
• Primary completion: 2005-11-01
• Completion: 2005-11-01
• First posted: 2008-08-05
• Last updated: 2008-08-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States