TY - JOUR

T1 - Enhanced increase of omega-3 index in response to long-term n-3 fatty acid supplementation from triacylglycerides versus ethyl esters

AU - Neubronner, J.

AU - Schuchardt, Jan Philipp

AU - Kressel, G.

AU - Merkel, M.

AU - Von Schacky, C.

AU - Hahn, A.

N1 - Funding information: C von Schacky received a speaker’s honoraria from Solvay, and grant support from Sanofi-Aventis and Smartfish. He founded Omegametrix, a company offering FA analyses. A Hahn and JP Schuchardt worked as consultants for companies, which also produce and merchandise FA supplements. The authors are solely responsible for the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; as well as preparation of the manuscript.

PY - 2011/2

Y1 - 2011/2

N2 - Background: There is a debate currently about whether different chemical forms of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are absorbed in an identical way. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of the omega-3 index, the percentage of EPA + DHA in red blood cell membranes, to supplementation with two different omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) formulations in humans.Design: The study was conducted as a double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. A total of 150 volunteers was randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (1) fish oil concentrate with EPA + DHA (1.01 g + 0.67 g) given as reesterified triacylglycerides (rTAG group); (2) corn oil (placebo group) or (3) fish oil concentrate with EPA + DHA (1.01 g + 0.67 g) given as ethyl ester (EE group). Volunteers consumed four gelatine-coated soft capsules daily over a period of six months. The omega-3 index was determined at baseline (t0) after three months (t3) and at the end of the intervention period (t6).Results: The omega-3 index increased significantly in both groups treated with n-3 FAs from baseline to t 3 and t 6 (P<0.001). The omega-3 index increased to a greater extent in the rTAG group than in the EE group (t 3: 186 versus 161% (P<0.001); t 6: 197 versus 171% (P<0.01)).Conclusion: A six-month supplementation of identical doses of EPA + DHA led to a faster and higher increase in the omega-3 index when consumed as triacylglycerides than when consumed as ethyl esters.

AB - Background: There is a debate currently about whether different chemical forms of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are absorbed in an identical way. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of the omega-3 index, the percentage of EPA + DHA in red blood cell membranes, to supplementation with two different omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) formulations in humans.Design: The study was conducted as a double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. A total of 150 volunteers was randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (1) fish oil concentrate with EPA + DHA (1.01 g + 0.67 g) given as reesterified triacylglycerides (rTAG group); (2) corn oil (placebo group) or (3) fish oil concentrate with EPA + DHA (1.01 g + 0.67 g) given as ethyl ester (EE group). Volunteers consumed four gelatine-coated soft capsules daily over a period of six months. The omega-3 index was determined at baseline (t0) after three months (t3) and at the end of the intervention period (t6).Results: The omega-3 index increased significantly in both groups treated with n-3 FAs from baseline to t 3 and t 6 (P<0.001). The omega-3 index increased to a greater extent in the rTAG group than in the EE group (t 3: 186 versus 161% (P<0.001); t 6: 197 versus 171% (P<0.01)).Conclusion: A six-month supplementation of identical doses of EPA + DHA led to a faster and higher increase in the omega-3 index when consumed as triacylglycerides than when consumed as ethyl esters.

KW - docosahexaenoic acid

KW - eicosapentaenoic acid

KW - ethyl esters

KW - N-3 fatty acids

KW - omega-3 index

KW - triacylglycerides

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79651470482&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/ejcn.2010.239

DO - 10.1038/ejcn.2010.239

M3 - Article

C2 - 21063431

AN - SCOPUS:79651470482

VL - 65

SP - 247

EP - 254

JO - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

JF - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

SN - 0954-3007

IS - 2

ER -