Cardiovascular (CV) Risk, Atheroscleroses, Inflamation, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Supplement
Conditions
Keywords
Omega - 3 fatty acids, stearidonic acid, fish oil, Echium oil, Ahiflower oil, Humans, Crossover
Brief summary
This randomized, single-blind, crossover clinical trial aims to evaluate Echium oil and Ahiflower® oil as sustainable, plant-based alternatives to marine oils for omega-3 supplementation. Although fish oil is the primary dietary source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), its use as a dietary supplementation presents several drawbacks, including high cost, potential contamination, limited global supply, and sustainability concerns. Echium and Ahiflower oils are naturally rich in stearidonic acid (SDA), a metabolic intermediate that bypasses the rate-limiting Δ6-desaturase step in the omega-3 pathway, potentially enhancing the conversion to EPA. Fifteen participants will undergo three 8-week intervention phases-Echium oil (15 g/day), Ahiflower oil (15 g/day), or EPA capsules (2.34 g/day)-separated by four-week washout periods. Blood samples will be collected before and after each phase to measure fatty acid profiles in plasma, plasma fractions, and erythrocytes using GC-MS. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters will also be assessed. The study seeks to determine whether SDA-rich plant oils can effectively increase EPA levels in humans and potentially reduce the reliance on marine oils for cardiovascular health benefits.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTEchium oil
Participants consume 15 g/day of Echium oil, incorporated into meals, during one 8-week phase.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTAhiflower oil
Participants consume 15 g/day of Ahiflower® oil, incorporated into meals, during one 8-week phase.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTEPA capsules
Participants consume three EPA capsules daily (totaling 2.34 g/day), taken with meals, during one 8-week phase.
Sponsors
University of Sao Paulo
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Inclusion criteria will include individuals of both sexes, aged 18 to 30 years, without contraindications for using fish oil or vegetable oil supplements. Women must not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
Exclusion criteria
* will include vegetarianism or veganism; the use of triglyceride-lowering medications or dietary supplements; consumption of fish oil or other n-3 or n-6 PUFA supplements/drugs within one month before the trial; consumption of fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, albacore tuna, or sardines) more than twice a month in the month before the trial; and unwillingness to avoid PUFA supplements and seafood throughout the study period. Additional exclusions will include severe heart failure, active severe liver disease, planned coronary intervention or surgery, history of acute or chronic pancreatitis, known hypersensitivity to fish, shellfish, or capsule ingredients, and autoimmune diseases requiring immunosuppressive therapy or current systemic corticosteroid use. Other
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in EPA and DHA concentrations in blood fractions | Baseline and after each 8-week intervention phase | EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) concentrations will be determined from blood fractions (plasma, plasma subfractions, and erythrocytes). Lipids will be extracted and derivatized to obtain fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), which will then be analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Measurements will be performed at baseline and after each 8-week intervention phase (Echium oil, Ahiflower® oil, and EPA capsules) to assess the efficiency of omega-3 conversion and incorporation under each supplementation condition |
Countries
Brazil
Outcome results
None listed