Metabolic Syndrome X
Conditions
Keywords
Fish oil, EPA, DHA, fatty acids, genetic variation, gene expression
Brief summary
Fish oil supplements (which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids) have been shown to provide cardiometabolic benefits to individuals of all ages. Specifically, the daily consumption of fish oil supplements has been reported to reduce blood triglyceride levels, and influence glucose homeostasis and whole-body inflammation. However, recent evidence highlights important gaps in our understanding with respect to the impact of fish oil supplements on health; specifically, not everyone responds to these supplements in the same manner. The goal of this research is to explore how an individual's genetic make-up may modify their response to fish oil supplements.
Detailed description
The typical Western diet is now recognized to have insufficient amounts of omega-3 fatty acids (in particular EPA and DHA). These fatty acids have several known health benefits, including improvements in heart health, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation. These benefits occur because omega-3 fatty acids can regulate a myriad of cellular functions. In order to increase the levels of these omega-3 fatty acids in the body, individuals must either consume more marine products or take an omega-3 rich dietary supplement, such as fish oil. While fish oil supplements are commonly consumed by people, it is now recognized that not everyone responds to these supplements in the same manner. Therefore this study aims to improve our understanding of why people respond differently to the same dietary supplement. The goals of this research will be accomplished using a number of approaches: 1. The investigators will examine how fish oil supplementation leads to an enrichment of EPA and DHA in various cells throughout the body (erythrocytes, adipose tissue, etc). 2. The investigators will determine the dynamic changes in EPA and DHA incorporation into different cell-types during distinct phases of our dietary intervention study (e.g. during supplementation and subsequent wash out periods). 3. The investigators will study how fish oil supplements influence various blood markers of cardiometabolic health (e.g. triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, C-reactive protein, etc) and whether this is modulated by an individual's genotype.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTFish oil supplement
Participants are instructed to consume fish oil supplements on a daily basis for a 3-month period.
Sponsors
University of Guelph
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* between 18-25 years old * male * good general health
Exclusion criteria
* currently taking a fish oil supplement * currently taking an omega-3 supplement * currently consuming a diet high in omega-3 (high in ALA, EPA, or DHA) * not able to maintain a consistent lifestyle routine throughout the study duration * have an allergy which would prevent them from taking a fish oil pill * schedule conflict with study visits * overweight or obese
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Triglyceride | Baseline, 3 months, 5 months | Blood triglycerides were measured at distinct time points: baseline, after 3 months supplementation, and after a 2 month wash out period. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Glucose | Baseline, 3 months, 5 months | Blood glucose levels measured at distinct time points: baseline, after 3 months supplementation, and after a 2 month wash out period. |
Countries
Canada
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Fish Oil Fish oil supplements providing up to 3g per day of EPA and DHA, for 90 days. | 12 |
| Total | 12 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Fish Oil |
|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 12 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment Canada | 12 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 0 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 12 Participants |
| Triglycerides | 0.9 mmol/L STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.3 |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 12 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 12 |
Outcome results
Primary
Blood Triglyceride
Blood triglycerides were measured at distinct time points: baseline, after 3 months supplementation, and after a 2 month wash out period.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 5 months
Population: Healthy adults, ranging in age from 18-65 years.
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Oil Supplement | Blood Triglyceride | Baseline | 0.9 mmol/L | Standard Deviation 0.3 |
| Fish Oil Supplement | Blood Triglyceride | 3 Months | 0.8 mmol/L | Standard Deviation 0.3 |
| Fish Oil Supplement | Blood Triglyceride | 5 months | 0.9 mmol/L | Standard Deviation 0.5 |
Secondary
Blood Glucose
Blood glucose levels measured at distinct time points: baseline, after 3 months supplementation, and after a 2 month wash out period.
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, 5 months
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Oil Supplement | Blood Glucose | Baseline | 4.4 mmol/L | Standard Deviation 1.4 |
| Fish Oil Supplement | Blood Glucose | 3 Months | 3.9 mmol/L | Standard Deviation 1.3 |
| Fish Oil Supplement | Blood Glucose | 5 months | 4.2 mmol/L | Standard Deviation 1.4 |