Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters Research Articles

The Effects of an Omega-3 Ethyl Ester Concentrate on Blood Lipid Concentrations in Patients with Hyperlipidaemia

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects and tolerability of an omega-3 ethyl ester concentrate (Omacor(trade mark)) on serum lipid concentrations in patients with hyperlipidaemia. A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was performed in the hospital and general practice setting. 84 patients with hyperlipidaemia were given a therapeutic lipid-lowering diet for 10 weeks. Of these, 55 patients were randomised to a 12-week treatment period. 47 patients completed the study and two patients withdrew because of adverse events. Randomised patients received omega-3 ethyl ester concentrate or corn oil (placebo), both administered at a dose of 2g twice daily in soft gelatin capsules. Main outcome measures included changes in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/ docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content of serum phospholipids, total serum triglycerides, total serum cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol between baseline (week 10) and the end of treatment (week 22). After 12 weeks of treatment, patients receiving the omega-3 ethyl ester concentrate showed a significant increase in the EPA/DHA content of serum phospholipids (p < 0.0001). No significant changes in serum phospholipids were observed in the patients given placebo. A mean [standard deviation (SD)] reduction in serum triglyceride of 28.3 (19.1)% (p = 0.0001) occurred in patients given the omega-3 ethyl ester concentrate. Patients receiving corn oil showed a nonsignificant mean (SD) increase in serum triglyceride of 9.1 (24.8)%. Therefore, a difference between the groups of 37.4% in favour of active treatment was found (p < 0.0001). Total serum cholesterol did not change significantly in either treatment group. Mean (SD) HDL cholesterol concentrations showed an increase of 0.9 (21.6)% in patients receiving omega-3 ethyl ester concentrate and 3.6 (24.3)% in the corn-oil group; however, neither increase was significant. In conclusion, omega-3 ethyl ester concentrate, 4 g/day, produced a significant reduction in mean serum triglyceride concentration in patients with hyperlipidaemia and was well tolerated.

Safety and Efficacy of Omacor in Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for acute pancreatitis, therefore decreasing serum triglyceride concentrations is an important component of risk management. Omega-3 fatty acids are well known hypotriglyceridemic agents, but their efficacy in severe forms of the disorder is not well documented. Our objective was to examine the effects of Omacor, a drug composed of 85% omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters. Forty-two patients with triglyceride concentrations between 5.65 and 22.60 mmol/l (500 and 2000 mg/dl) were studied in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Omacor (4 g/day for 4 months). Compared with baseline values, Omacor significantly reduced mean triglyceride concentrations by 45% (P<0.00001), cholesterol by 15% (P< 0.001), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 32% (P< 0.0001) and cholesterol:high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio by 20% (P=0.0013), and increased HDL cholesterol by 13% (P=0.014) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 31% (P=0.0014). The placebo had no effect on these parameters. Omacor was well tolerated and no patient discontinued medication because of side effects. Four capsules of Omacor per day markedly decreased triglyceride concentrations in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. The availability of a potent and safe omega-3 fatty acid preparation for this patient population should diminish the risk for acute pancreatitis, and may also reduce the long-term risk for cardiovascular disease.

Treatment with omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters in hyperlipoproteinaemias: Comparative studies on lipid metabolism and thrombotic indexes

Treatment with omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters in hyperlipoproteinaemias: Comparative studies on lipid metabolism and thrombotic indexes

The effects of olive oil, hydrogenated palm oil, and omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diets on megakaryocytes and platelets.

Unsaturated fatty acids are thought to prevent thrombotic and arteriosclerotic disease, whereas saturated fatty acids are thought to increase the incidence of these disorders. However, the effects of these diets on megakaryocytes and platelets are not well understood. We compared the effects of diets enriched with 8.4% olive oil, 8.4% hydrogenated palm oil, or 10.2% omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters on guinea pig megakaryocytes and platelets. In plasma, changes in fatty acid composition reflected the composition of each diet. However, in platelets and megakaryocytes, hydrogenated palm oil induced a decrease in 16:0 and an increase in 18:2 while the olive oil diet caused a marked increase in 18:1 and a decrease in most other fatty acids. The differences in the effects of the diets on cellular versus plasma fatty acids suggest that megakaryocytes and platelets have an extensive capacity to regulate their fatty acid composition. Thrombocytosis occurred with the omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet: 12.9 +/- 1.78 x 10(5) compared with 7.45 +/- 1.08 x 10(5) platelets per microliter of platelet-rich plasma in control animals. There was an increase in megakaryocyte size, ploidy, and morphological stage (cytoplasmic maturation) with the omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet but not with the other diets. The omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet decreased platelet thromboxane production while the other diets had no effect. Platelet hypersensitivity was suggested in collagen aggregation studies with olive oil but not with the hydrogenated palm oil diet. Although saturated fatty acid diets are thought to be atherogenic, this diet had no affect on platelet function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)