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Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in vegetarians effectively increases omega-3 index: A randomized trial

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Lipids

Abstract

Low red blood cell (RBC) membrane content of FPA+DHA (hereafter called omega-3 index) has recently been described as an indicator for increased risk of death from coronary heart disease. The relationship between plasma and RBC FA, focusing on omega-3 index, and the response to DHA supplementation were investigated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, intervention study. Healthy vegetarians (87 f, 17 m) consumed daily a microalgae oil from Ulkenia sp. (0.94 g DHA/d) or olive oil (placebo) for 8 wk. DHA supplementation significantly increased DHA in RBC total lipids (7.9 vs. 4.4 wt%), in RBC PE (12.1 vs. 6.5 wt%), in RBC PC (3.8 vs. 1.4 wt%), and in plasma phospholipids (PL) (7.4 vs. 2.8 wt%), whereas EPA levels rose to a much lesser extent. Microalgae oil supplementation increased the omega-3 index from 4.8 to 8.4 wt%. After intervention, 69% of DHA-supplemented subjects (but no subject of the placebo group) reached an omega-3 index above the desirable value of 8 wt%. Omega-3 index and EPA+DHA levels in RBC PE, RBC PC, and plasma PL were closely correlated (r always >0.9). We conclude that an 8-wk supplementation with 0.94 g DHA/d from microalgae oil achieves a beneficial omega-3 index of ≥8% in most subjects with low basal EPA+DHA status. RBC total FA analyses can be used instead of RBC lipid fraction analyses for assessing essential FA status, e.g., in clinical studies.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid

ALA:

α-linolenic acid

BMI:

body mass index

CHD:

coronary heart disease

DPA:

docosapentaenoic acid

LA:

linoleic acid

LCPUFA:

long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid

OA:

oleic acid, 18∶1n−9

PA:

palmitic acid, 16∶0

PL:

phospholipids

RBC:

red blood cells

SFA:

saturated fatty acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Div. Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Lindwurmstraße 4, D-80337, Munich, Germany

    Julia Geppert, Veronika Kraft, Hans Demmelmair & Berthold Koletzko

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  1. Julia Geppert
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  2. Veronika Kraft
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  3. Hans Demmelmair
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  4. Berthold Koletzko
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Correspondence to Berthold Koletzko.

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Geppert, J., Kraft, V., Demmelmair, H. et al. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in vegetarians effectively increases omega-3 index: A randomized trial. Lipids 40, 807–814 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1442-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1442-9

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