Supplementation with an Algae Source of Docosahexaenoic Acid Increases (n-3) Fatty Acid Status and Alters Selected Risk Factors for Heart Disease in Vegetarian Subjects

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 126; no. 12; pp. 3032 - 3039
• Main Authors: Conquer, Julie A., Holub, Bruce J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.12.1996; American Society for Nutritional Sciences; American Institute of Nutrition
• Subjects: ACIDE ARACHIDONIQUE; ACIDE GRAS; ACIDE GRAS INSATURE; ACIDE GRAS POLYINSATURE; ACIDO ARAQUIDONICO; ACIDOS GRASOS; ACIDOS GRASOS INSATURADOS; ACIDOS GRASOS POLIINSATURADOS; administration & dosage; Adult; ALGAE; Amino acids; arachidonic acid; Biological and medical sciences; blood; blood coagulation; blood lipids; blood platelets; blood serum; CARDIOPATHIE; Cardiovascular disease; CHOLESTEROL; Cholesterol - blood; COAGULACION SANGUINEA; COAGULATION SANGUINE; COLESTEROL; COMPLEMENT ALIMENTAIRE; DHA supplementation; Diet, Vegetarian; DIETA; Dietary supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Docosahexaenoic Acids - blood; Docosahexaenoic Acids - metabolism; docosenoic acids; Double-Blind Method; eicosapentaenoic acid; ENFERMEDADES CARDIACAS; Eukaryota; factor VIII; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood; Female; FEMME; fibrinogen; FIBRINOGENE; FIBRINOGENO; Food, Fortified; FOSFOLIPIDOS; General pharmacology; Health risk assessment; heart diseases; Heart Diseases - prevention & control; HEMOLIPIDOS; high density lipoprotein; HOMBRES; HOMME; Humans; lipid metabolism; LIPIDE; LIPIDE SANGUIN; LIPIDOS; LIPOPROTEINAS; LIPOPROTEINE; low density lipoprotein; Male; Medical sciences; men; metabolism; METABOLISME DES LIPIDES; METABOLISMO DE LIPIDOS; MUJERES; omega-3 fatty acids; ONTARIO; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; PHOSPHATIDE; phospholipids; Phospholipids - blood; platelet aggregation; prevention & control; PROTEINAS SANGUINEAS; PROTEINE SANGUINE; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; RIESGO; Risk Factors; RISQUE; SERUM SANGUIN; SUERO SANGUINEO; SUPLEMENTOS; THROMBOCYTE; thrombogenic factors; thromboxanes; triacylglycerols; TRIGLICERIDOS; TRIGLYCERIDE; TROMBOCITOS; vegetarian; vegetarian diet; Vegetarianism; VEGETARIANOS; VEGETARIEN; VISCOSIDAD; VISCOSITE; viscosity; women; Ontario; vegetarian; cholesterol; DHA supplementation; thrombogenic factors; humans; Human; Nutrition; Pharmacognosy; Algae; Vegetarian diet; Cardiovascular disease; Lipids; Supplemented diet; Docosahexaenoic acid; n-3 fatty acid; Coronary heart disease; Feeding; Prevention; Diet therapy; Plant origin; Unsaturated fatty acid; Nutritional status; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/126.12.3032

The purpose of this double-blind study was to investigate the influence of dietary supplementation with an algae source of docosahexaenoic acid [DHA; 22:6(n-3)], devoid of any eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5(n-3)], on serum/platelet DHA status, the estimated retroconversion of DHA to EPA, and risk factors for heart disease in vegetarian subjects. Healthy vegetarians (12 male, 12 female) consumed nine capsules daily of either DHA (1.62 g/d) or corn oil for 6 wk. Consumption of DHA capsules increased DHA levels in serum phospholipid by 246% (from 2.4 to 8.3 g/100 g fatty acids) and in platelet phospholipid by 225% (from 1.2 to 3.9 g/100 g fatty acids). EPA levels increased in serum phospholipid by 117% (from 0.57 to 1.3 g/100 g fatty acids) and in platelet phospholipid by 176% (0.21 to 0.58 g/100 g fatty acids) via metabolic retroconversion; the estimated extent of DHA retroconversion to EPA was 11.3 and 12.0%, based on the serum and platelet analyses, respectively. Arachidonic acid [AA; 20:4(n-6)] levels in serum and platelet phospholipids decreased moderately during the trial period (DHA group) as did both docosapentaenoic acid [22:5(n-6) and 22:5(n-3)]. Although no significant changes were found in the total and LDL-cholesterol levels with DHA supplementation, the total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio showed a moderate decrease over time as did the LDL-cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio and serum triglyceride concentrations. DHA supplementation did not alter the various thrombogenic factors measured. In conclusion, DHA supplementation markedly enhanced the DHA status (of serum and platelets), provided for the formation of substantial EPA, and lowered the total and LDL-cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratios.