Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplementation Changes Fatty Acid Composition and Corrects Endothelial Dysfunction in Hyperlipidemic Patients

Ken Yamakawa,Hiroaki Masuzaki,Osamu Arasaki,Masataka Sata,Yoshito Oshiro,Tomohiro Asahi,Shinichiro Ueda,Hisashi Yoshida,Taro Saito,Namio Higa,Michio Shimabukuro,Tohru Higa,Kageyuki Ohba,Moritake Higa

doi:10.1155/2012/754181

Abstract

We investigated the effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on vascular endothelial function and free fatty acid composition in Japanese hyperlipidemic subjects. In subjects with hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol ≥220 mg/dL and/or triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL), lipid profile and forearm blood flow (FBF) during reactive hyperemia were determined before and 3 months after supplementation with 1800 mg/day EPA. Peak FBF during reactive hyperemia was lower in the hyperlipidemic group than the normolipidemic group. EPA supplementation did not change serum levels of total, HDL, or LDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins, remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol, RLP triglycerides, or malondialdehyde-modified LDL cholesterol. EPA supplementation did not change total free fatty acid levels in serum, but changed the fatty acid composition, with increased EPA and decreased linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid. EPA supplementation recovered peak FBF after 3 months. Peak FBF recovery was correlated positively with EPA and EPA/arachidonic acid levels and correlated inversely with dihomo-γ-linolenic acid. EPA supplementation restores endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in hyperlipidemic patients despite having no effect on serum cholesterol and triglyceride patterns. These results suggest that EPA supplementation may improve vascular function at least partly via changes in fatty acid composition.

Highlights

Consumption of fish or fish oil is inversely correlated with morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease [1,2,3,4,5]
We investigated the effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on vascular endothelial function and free fatty acid composition in Japanese hyperlipidemic subjects
EPA supplementation restores endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in hyperlipidemic patients despite having no effect on serum cholesterol and triglyceride patterns. These results suggest that EPA supplementation may improve vascular function at least partly via changes in fatty acid composition

Summary

Introduction

Consumption of fish or fish oil is inversely correlated with morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease [1,2,3,4,5]. The major components of fish oils are long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which may have cardioprotective potential. In the JELIS study, the benefits of EPA were greater in patients with a prior history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (secondary prevention) [6] and in patients with multiple coronary risk factors [7]. Such benefits were obtained without an effect of lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, but were more pronounced in populations consuming low amounts of n-3 fatty acids. The LDL-Cindependent mechanism(s) of this phenomenon have not yet been clarified [6, 7]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion