Abstract
The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of Almega®PL on improving the Omega-3 Index, cardio-metabolic parameters, and other biomarkers in generally healthy individuals. The benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health are primarily built upon mixtures of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA). Highly purified EPA therapy has proven to be particularly effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, but less is known about the benefits of EPA-only supplementation for the general healthy population. Almega®PL is a polar rich oil (>15%) derived from the microalga Nannochloropsis that contains EPA (>25%) with no DHA. Participants (n = 120) were given a capsule of 1 g/day of either Almega®PL or placebo for 12 weeks. Differences in the Omega-3 Index, cardiometabolic markers, and other general health indicators were measured at the baseline, six, and 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo group, Almega®PL supplementation significantly increased the Omega-3 Index and EPA concentration from 4.96 ± 0.90 and 0.82 ± 0.37% at the baseline to 5.75 ± 0.90 and 1.27 ± 0.36 at week 12, respectively. Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) decreased by 25%, which resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol compared to the placebo. Interestingly, the decrease in VLDL was not associated with an increase in LDL, which seems to be a benefit associated with EPA-only based formulations. Collectively, these results show that Almega®PL provides a natural EPA-only option to increase EPA and manage cholesterol levels in the general population.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally [1]
Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) decreased by 25%, which resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol compared to the placebo
The decrease in VLDL was not associated with an increase in LDL, which seems to be a benefit associated with eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA)-only based formulations
Summary
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally [1]. Cardiovascular health benefits of DHA and EPA supplementation are supported by a large body of evidence, including the decrease of cardiometabolic risk factors such as triglycerides [6], cholesterol [7], blood pressure [8], and subsequently death [9]. Nannochloropsis produces EPA without the DHA, which is typically present in other LCn-3 PUFA natural sources This is important because EPA might have different benefits in cardiovascular health than DHA [9,10], but most supplementation studies conducted are based on supplements with. Besides the absolute values of LCn-3 PUFA intake, both the composition (EPA only) as well as the structure (polar rich) of this plant-based source may lead to a better understanding of the cardioprotective and health benefits of LCn-3 PUFA. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Almega® PL on improving the Omega-3 Index (O3I), cardio-metabolic parameters, and health-related quality of life in generally healthy men and women
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