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The acute effects of a single very high dose of n−3 fatty acids on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy subjects

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Lipids

Abstract

Forty healthy volunteers were allocated in a double blind, randomized study to receive either 20 g of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or 20 g of n−6 PUFA at their evening meal. The effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins of this single dose of fish oilvs. corn oil was studied the next morning, 14 h after ingestion. Plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly decreased (33%) after n−3 PUFA (P<0.001), and significantly (P<0.01) more than after intake of n−6 PUFA. The decrease in plasma triglycerides after n−3 PUFA ingestion was more pronounced in subjects with higher baseline levels of triglycerides (P<0.001). Total cholesterol decreased after both supplements, but did not differ between the supplements. Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol did not change, and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol significantly decreased in subjects given n−3 PUFA compared to baseline, but not when compared to subjects receiving n−6 PUFA. In conclusion, we have shown that a single very high dose of n−3 PUFA has a pronounced hypotriglyceridemic effect, which is directly related to the initial plasma level.

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Abbreviations

HDL:

high density lipoproteins

LDL:

low density lipoproteins

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

VLDL:

very low density lipoproteins

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Svaneborg, N., Møller, J.M., Schmidt, E.B. et al. The acute effects of a single very high dose of n−3 fatty acids on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy subjects. Lipids 29, 145–147 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02537154

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02537154

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