Combining 21 trials evaluating lipid outcomes , fish oil consumption result ed in a summary net change in triglycerides of -27 ( 95 % CI -33 , -20)mg/dL , in HDL cholesterol of + 1.6 ( 95 % CI + 0.8 , + 2.3)mg/dL , and in LDL cholesterol of + 6 ( 95 % CI + 3 , + 8)mg/dL. There was no effect of fish oil on total cholesterol .
Across studies , higher fish oil dose and higher baseline levels were associated with greater reductions in serum triglycerides .
The evidence supports a dose-dependent beneficial effect of fish oil on serum triglycerides , particularly among people with more elevated levels .
Fish oil consumption also modestly improves HDL cholesterol , increases LDL cholesterol levels , but does not appear to adversely affect glucose homeostasis .
The evidence regarding the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on hs-CRP is inconclusive , as are data on ALA
Greater fish oil consumption has been associated with reduced CVD risk , although the mechanisms are unclear .
Plant- source oil omega-3 fatty acids ( ALA ) have also been studied regarding their cardiovascular effect .
Highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in humans have similar triacylglycerol-lowering effects but divergent effects on serum fatty acids.
To compare the effects of highly purified ethyl ester concentrates of eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) and docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) on serum lipids , apolipoproteins , and serum phospholipid fatty acids in humans , we conducted a double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel design intervention study . Healthy nonsmoking men ( n = 234 ) aged 36 - 56 y were r and omly assigned to dietary supplementation with 3.8 g EPA/d , 3.6 g DHA/d , or 4.0 g corn oil/d ( placebo ) for 7 wk . Serum triacylglycerols decreased 26 % ( P < 0.0001 ) in the DHA group and 21 % ( P = 0.0001 ) in the EPA group compared with the corn oil group . Although not significant , net decreases in serum triacylglycerols were consistently greater in the DHA group across all quartiles of baseline triacylglycerol concentrations . Serum high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol increased 0.06 mmol/L ( P = 0.0002 ) in the DHA group . In the EPA group , serum total cholesterol decreased 0.15 mmol/L ( P = 0.02 ) and apolipoprotein A-I decreased 0.04 g/L ( P = 0.0003 ) . In the DHA group , serum phospholipid DHA increased by 69 % and EPA increased by 29 % , indicating retroconversion of DHA to EPA . In the EPA group , serum phospholipid EPA increased by 297 % whereas DHA decreased by 15 % , suggesting that EPA is not elongated to DHA in humans . The serum phospholipid ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids increased in both groups , whereas the relative changes in n-6 fatty acids suggested possible alterations in liver desaturation activity in the DHA group . We conclude that both DHA and EPA decrease serum triacylglycerols , but have differential effects on lipoprotein and fatty acid metabolism in humans
Combining 21 trials evaluating lipid outcomes , fish oil consumption result ed in a summary net change in triglycerides of -27 ( 95 % CI -33 , -20)mg/dL , in HDL cholesterol of + 1.6 ( 95 % CI + 0.8 , + 2.3)mg/dL , and in LDL cholesterol of + 6 ( 95 % CI + 3 , + 8)mg/dL. There was no effect of fish oil on total cholesterol .
Across studies , higher fish oil dose and higher baseline levels were associated with greater reductions in serum triglycerides .
The evidence supports a dose-dependent beneficial effect of fish oil on serum triglycerides , particularly among people with more elevated levels .
Fish oil consumption also modestly improves HDL cholesterol , increases LDL cholesterol levels , but does not appear to adversely affect glucose homeostasis .
The evidence regarding the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on hs-CRP is inconclusive , as are data on ALA
Greater fish oil consumption has been associated with reduced CVD risk , although the mechanisms are unclear .
Plant- source oil omega-3 fatty acids ( ALA ) have also been studied regarding their cardiovascular effect .