Effects of Supplementation With Linseed Oil on Blood Lipids in Vegetarians

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study was performed to investigate the effects of a daily consumption of linseed oil on fatty acid distribution in plasma and red blood cell lipids and blood lipids in vegetarians.

Detailed Description
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Recent studies suggest that the daily intake of n-3 LC-PUFA (EPA and DHA) can modulate cardiovascular risk factors and prevent lifestyle diseases. The major dietary source of EPA and DHA is seafood (seaweeds and fatty cold water fishes), but they can also be found in lean red meat, in organ meats such as liver and brain. Vegetarians who do not eat meat or fish, have very low or negligible intakes of EPA (< 5 mg EPA/d) and DHA. The purpose of the present study is to explore the tissue distribution and inter-conversion of ALA to n-3 LC-PUFA as consequence of linseed oil supplementation in vegetarians. Eight vegetarians (3 m; 5 f) who do not eat meat, fish or seaweeds such as algae foods since least two years ago and two subjects (1 m; 1w) who consume the normal western style diet living in Jena (Germany) entered the study. The participants consumed 10 mL linseed oil per day for 10 weeks. The resulting daily dose of ALA was approx. 5.7 g/d.

Official Title
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Effects of Supplementation With Linseed Oil on Blood Lipids and Fatty Acid Profile in Plasma and Erythrocyte Lipids in Vegetarians

Conditions
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Inter-conversion n-3 PUFA, Vegetarians

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Linseed oil


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: for the vegetarian sub-group : vegetarian diet pattern Exclusion Criteria: high performance sport, daily alcohol intake and the in-take of dietary supplements (e.g., fish oil capsules) for the vegetarian sub-group, the consumption of fish and algae products (e.g. seaweeds, sushi)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Vegetarians<br>Dietary supplement: 10 mL linseed oil per day | Dietary Supplement: Linseed oil<br>* Dietary supplement: 10 mL linseed oil per day<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Omnivores<br>Dietary supplement: 10 mL linseed oil per day | Dietary Supplement: Linseed oil<br>* Dietary supplement: 10 mL linseed oil per day<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EPA concentrations in plasma lipids and red blood cell lipids |  | 10 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| blood lipids | total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, high density cholesterol, low density cholesterol, lipoprotein a | 10 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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n-3 LC-PUFA, vegetarians, fatty acids, blood lipids