Effect of short-term use of omega-3-type polyunsaturated fatty acids in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on lipid profile in hypertriglyceridaemic patients.SETTING: General practice.DESIGN: Prospective, double blind study of 12 weeks' duration.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients received fish oil (1800 mg C20: 5 omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1200 mg C22:6 omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Nine patients received corn oil (3000 mg C18: 2 omega-6 linoleic acid daily).RESULTS: Lipid profile analysis showed a decrease in triglyceride levels after fish oil supplementation. An unexpected and unexplained finding was the rise in total cholesterol and LDH cholesterol with corn oil supplementation.CONCLUSION: Fish oil causes a decrease in triglyceride levels in hypertriglyceridaemic patients.