Krill oil reduces plasma triacylglycerol level and improves related lipoprotein particle concentration, fatty acid composition and redox status in healthy young adults - a pilot study

Rolf K Berge,Asbjørn Svardal,Marie S Ramsvik,Pavol Bohov,Espen Rostrup,Jan E Nordrehaug,Inge Bruheim,Bodil Bjørndal

doi:10.1186/s12944-015-0162-7

Rolf K Berge, Asbjørn Svardal + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-015-0162-7

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Abstract

BackgroundLipid abnormalities, enhanced inflammation and oxidative stress seem to represent a vicious circle in atherogenesis, and therapeutic options directed against these processes seems like a reasonable approach in the management of atherosclerotic disorders. Krill oil (RIMFROST Sublime®) is a phospholipid-rich oil with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ratio of 1.8:1. In this pilot study we determined if krill oil could favourable affect plasma lipid parameters and parameters involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.MethodsThe study was conducted as a 28 days intervention study examining effect-parameters of dietary supplementation with krill oil (832.5 mg EPA and DHA per day). 17 healthy volunteers in the age group 18–36 (mean age 23 ± 4 years) participated. Plasma lipids, lipoprotein particle sizes, fatty acid composition in plasma and red blood cells (RBCs), plasma cytokines, antioxidant capacity, acylcarntines, carnitine, choline, betaine, and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) were measured before and after supplementation.ResultsPlasma triacylglycerol (TAG) and large very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) & chylomicron particle concentrations decreased after 28 days of krill oil intake. A significant reduction in the TAG/HDL cholesterol resulted. Krill oil supplementation decreased n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio both in plasma and RBCs. This was due to increased EPA, DHA and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and reduced amount of arachidonic acid (AA). The increase of n-3 fatty acids and wt % of EPA and DHA in RBC was of smaller magnitude than found in plasma. Krill oil intake increased the antioxidant capacity, double bond index (DBI) and the fatty acid anti-inflammatory index. The plasma atherogenicity index remained constant whereas the thrombogenicity index decreased. Plasma choline, betaine and the carnitine precursor, γ-butyrobetaine were increased after krill oil supplementation whereas the TMAO and carnitine concentrations remained unchanged.ConclusionKrill oil consumption is considered health beneficial as it decreases cardiovascular disease risk parameters through effects on plasma TAGs, lipoprotein particles, fatty acid profile, redox status and possible inflammation. Noteworthy, no adverse effects on plasma levels of TMAO and carnitine were found.

Highlights

Lipid abnormalities, enhanced inflammation and oxidative stress seem to represent a vicious circle in atherogenesis, and therapeutic options directed against these processes seems like a reasonable approach in the management of atherosclerotic disorders
TAG is carried in very lowdensity lipoproteins (VLDL) and chylomicrons (CMs) Human trials have shown that plasma concentrations of high low-density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol, low highdensity lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol and high TAG are associated with elevated Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk [5, 6]
All safety parameters remained within normal limits both for males and females, and krill oil supplementation did not change these clinical parameters compared to baseline, with the exception of a small increase in gamma-glutamyltransferase (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Lipid abnormalities, enhanced inflammation and oxidative stress seem to represent a vicious circle in atherogenesis, and therapeutic options directed against these processes seems like a reasonable approach in the management of atherosclerotic disorders. Krill oil (RIMFROST Sublime®) is a phospholipid-rich oil with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ratio of 1.8:1. In this pilot study we determined if krill oil could favourable affect plasma lipid parameters and parameters involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. TAG is carried in very lowdensity lipoproteins (VLDL) and chylomicrons (CMs) Human trials have shown that plasma concentrations of high LDL-cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol and high TAG are associated with elevated CVD risk [5, 6]. It has been found that TAG-rich lipoproteins causally influence risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) [7]. Most probably EPA and/or DHA do not affect CVD through a single factor, but rather due to several factors such as plasma lipid concentration [11, 12], systemic and local inflammation [16], vascular endothelial function [17, 18], and oxidative stress [17, 18]

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