Susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modification in healthy volunteers supplemented with low doses of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Br J Nutr. 2001 Jan;85(1):23-31. doi: 10.1079/bjn2000220.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the oxidative susceptibility of LDL in human volunteers following supplementation with various low doses (<1 g/d) of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Sixty-two healthy volunteers (thirty-seven males and twenty-five females, aged 19-63 years) were recruited to take part in a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Volunteers were required to take 0.9, 0.6 or 0.3 g n-3 PUFA as fish oil or placebo capsules daily for 16 weeks. Susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modification was assessed by measuring the production of conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in LDL oxidised by Cu2+ (15 microM) or 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (1 mM) for 5 h. Plasma fatty acid and LDL-fatty acid composition, cholesterol levels and antioxidant concentrations were also measured. While post-treatment n-3 PUFA compositions of plasma and LDL reflected the capsule contents, no meaningful differences in antioxidant concentrations or cholesterol levels were observed between the groups. Supplementation with low doses of n-3 PUFA as fish oil did not influence the oxidative susceptibility of LDL. The results of the present study suggest that moderate dietary intakes of n-3 PUFA do not significantly influence the susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modification in vitro.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fatty Acids / blood
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Fish Oils / administration & dosage
  • Fish Oils / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fish Oils
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Cholesterol