Omega-3
fatty acids are found in oily fish like salmon and flaxseed and canola
oils.
As
reported in the March 1, 2007 Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes,
French researchers conducted a prospective, double-blind trial to assess the effect
of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids -- better known as omega-3 fatty acids -- found
in fish oil.
The study included 122 HIV positive patients on HAART who
still had elevated triglyceride levels (between 2 and 10 g/L) after a 4-week diet.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive 2 capsules containing 1 g of fish
oil (Maxepa) or else placebo capsules 3 times daily for 8 weeks, followed by an
open-label phase during which all participants received fish oil. Ten individuals
with baseline triglyceride levels above 10 g/L were not randomized and received
open-label fish oil from the outset.
Results
•
The median
triglyceride level decreased by 25.5% in the fish oil group, while rising by 1%
in the placebo group.
•
At
week 8, the mean triglyceride levels were 3.4 and 4.8 g/L, respectively.
•
Triglyceride
levels normalized in 22.4% of subjects in the fish oil arm compared with 6.5%
in the placebo arm (P = 0.013).
•
58.6%
and 33.9%, respectively, experienced at least a 20% reduction in triglycerides
(P = 0.007).
•
Patients
in the fish oil group experienced a slight decline in total cholesterol level,
compared with a small increase in the placebo arm.
•
During
the open-label phase, the decrease in triglycerides was sustained at week 16 for
patients in the fish oil group, while those initially in the placebo group experienced
a 21.2% decrease after switching to fish oil.
•
The
patients with baseline triglyceride levels above 10 g/L experienced a 43.6% decrease
by week 8.
•
No
significant differences in adverse events were observed between the fish oil and
placebo arms.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, the authors wrote, "This study demonstrated the efficacy of [polyunsaturated
fatty acids] to lower elevated triglyceride levels in treated HIV-infected hypertriglyceridemic
patients. [N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids] have a good safety profile."
"The
place of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the armamentarium of treatment of metabolic
disorders in HIV-infected patients needs to be further investigated with future
prospective studies," they recommended.
04/10/07
Reference P
De Truchis, M Kirstetter, A Perier, and others. Reduction in triglyceride level
with N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in HIV-infected patients taking potent antiretroviral
therapy: a randomized prospective study. JAIDS 44(3): 278-285. March 1,
2007.
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