Study Comparing Fish Oil and Krill Oil

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil and in krill oil. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the recommended dose of a fish oil supplement (Omax3 4:1 EPA:DHA; recommended daily dose 1650 mg - totaling 1500 mg EPA+DHA) and a krill oil supplement (MegaRed; recommended daily dose 300 mg - totaling 74 mg EPA+DHA) on omega-3 index, plasma biomarkers of inflammation and inflammatory cell activation, and plasma lipid levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Detailed Description
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Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. There has been some evidence that fish oil, containing the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), reduces the risk or severity of these diseases, leading several government and health organizations to advocate an increased consumption of fish or fish oil. Fish oil contains EPA and DHA either as triglycerides or as ethyl esters. Recently, krill oil has gained popularity as an EPA and DHA supplement. Krill oil contains EPA and DHA in phospholipid, triglyceride, and free fatty acid form. Some studies have shown that the bioavailability of EPA and DHA in krill oil is higher than in fish oil and that smaller doses of krill oil are therefore sufficient to observe a significant effect on the desired outcome (inflammation, plasma lipid levels). The central hypothesis of this proposal is that the dose of the EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids is more important than their bioavailability in effecting changes in systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism.

Official Title
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Study Comparing Fish Oil and Krill Oil

Conditions
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Inflammation, Dyslipidemia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Fish oil
* Dietary Supplement: Krill oil


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: fasting plasma triglyceride levels between 150 and 500 mg/dL C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≥2 µg/mL at least one of the following criteria for the definition of metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity (waist circumference >40 inches in men and >35 inches in women), hypertension (blood pressure ≥130/≥85 mmHg or use of anti-hypertensive medications), and fasting glucose ≥110 mg/dL. Exclusion Criteria: high-fish diets (>2 fish meals/week) taking fish oil supplements or supplements containing EPA or DHA regular use of anti-inflammatory medications Above normal coagulation time or use of anticoagulant medications allergy to fish, fish oil, or shellfish uncontrolled thyroid dysfunction insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus kidney or liver disease smoking drinking more than 7 alcoholic drinks/week use of lipid-lowering medications or medications known to alter lipoprotein metabolism

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years
Maximum Age: 75 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: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Fish oil<br>fish oil, 1500 mg/day, EPA:DHA ratio of 4:1, each capsule containing 750 mg total EPA+DHA, 2 capsules/day for 10 weeks | Dietary Supplement: Fish oil<br>* two 750 mg/capsules/day<br>|
| Experimental: krill oil<br>krill oil, 300 mg/day, each capsule containing 74 mg total EPA+DHA , 1 capsule/day for 10 weeks | Dietary Supplement: Krill oil<br>* one 300 mg capsule/day<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Omega-3 index | red blood cell membrane levels of EPA and DHA, as percent of total fatty acids | 10 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| interleukin-6 (IL-6) | plasma levels as pg/mL | 10 weeks | 
| Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) | plasma levels as pg/mL | 10 weeks | 
| Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) | plasma levels as pg/mL | 10 weeks | 
| Total cholesterol | plasma levels as mg/dL | 10 weeks | 
| LDL cholesterol | plasma levels as mg/dL | 10 weeks | 
| HDL cholesterol | plasma levels as mg/dL | 10 weeks | 
| TG | plasma levels as mg/dL | 10 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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fish oil, EPA, DHA, krill oil, Metabolic Syndrome