Triglyceride-Lowering Effects of a Modest Dose of Docosahexaenoic Acid Alone Versus in Combination with Low Dose Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Elevated Triglycerides

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Nutrition Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 480 - 485
• Main Authors: Schwellenbach, Lisa J, Olson, Kari L, McConnell, Karen J, Stolcpart, Ryan S, Nash, James D, Merenich, John A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American College of Nutrition 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Aged; blood lipids; cardioprotective effect; cardiovascular diseases; Coronary Artery Disease - blood; Coronary Artery Disease - drug therapy; dietary supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - therapeutic use; Female; human nutrition; Humans; hypertriglyceridemia; Hypertriglyceridemia - drug therapy; lipemic effect; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Male; nutritional intervention; omega-3 fatty acids; patients; polyunsaturated fatty acids; Prospective Studies; randomized clinical trials; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 0731-5724; 1541-1087
• DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2006.10719562

BACKGROUND: Hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The American Heart Association recommends 1000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), daily for cardioprotection and higher doses for triglyceride-lowering in patients with CAD. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind study comparing DHA to DHA + EPA in patients with CAD and triglycerides greater than 200 mg/dL. Subjects were randomized to either 1000 mg of DHA or 1252 mg of DHA + EPA for eight weeks. Baseline and eight-week laboratories were drawn to assess changes in the fasting lipid profile. The primary objective was to evaluate the change in triglycerides between the two groups at eight weeks. RESULTS: A total of 116 subjects were enrolled; 57 in the DHA group and 59 in the DHA + EPA group. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The mean age was 69.4 ± 9.1 years and 70.7% were male. Triglycerides decreased by an average of 21.8% in the DHA group (p < 0.001) and 18.3% in the DHA + EPA group (p < 0.001). The difference between groups was not significant. A greater proportion of subjects in the DHA group achieved triglyceride goal (less than 150 mg/dL) compared to the DHA + EPA group (24.6% versus 10.2%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the American Heart Association recommended cardioprotective dose of omega-3 fatty acids can also significantly lower triglycerides in patients with CAD. There do not appear to be significant differences in triglyceride-lowering between DHA only and DHA + EPA combination products when dosing is based on DHA.