Effect of a Supplemented Diet with Canned Sardine on the Lipid Fraction of Human Plasma and Erythrocytes

Abstract

Over the past 20 years many studies and clinical investigations have addressed the beneficial effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids in general and ω3 fatty acids in particular. It is currently known that ω3 fatty acids play important role in the prevention of several pathologies like the coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other. The protection played by ω3 fatty acids against coronary heart disease may be related to antiatherogenic effects and/or to the modification of risk factors through mechanisms related to lipid metabolism. The objective of this work was to evaluate, in healthy volunteers, the effect of a diet supplementation with canned sardine, which is rich in co3 fatty acids on the profile of plasma and erythrocytes, lipids, phospholipids and fatty acids. The serum levels of total cholesterol and high density lipoproteins (HDL) did not change during the period of the supplementation, tri-acylglycerol levels showed a trend for a decrease and low density lipoproteins (LDL)-derived thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (LDL TBARS) levels showed a decrease. Incorporation of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic fatty acids (EPA and DHA, respectively) into plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids was observed. The results suggest that the undergone dietary supplementation may have allowed the incorporation of co3 polyunsaturated fatty acids into cell membranes and has increased the resistance of LDL to oxidative stress. This may represent protection factors against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.