Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study
The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of Almega<sup>®</sup>PL on improving the Omega-3 Index, cardio-metabolic parameters, and other biomarkers in generally healthy individuals. The benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health are primarily built upon mixt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1869 |
| _version_ | 1797564363411816448 |
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| author | Amanda Rao David Briskey Jakob O Nalley Eneko Ganuza |
| author_facet | Amanda Rao David Briskey Jakob O Nalley Eneko Ganuza |
| author_sort | Amanda Rao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of Almega<sup>®</sup>PL on improving the Omega-3 Index, cardio-metabolic parameters, and other biomarkers in generally healthy individuals. The benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health are primarily built upon mixtures of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA). Highly purified EPA therapy has proven to be particularly effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, but less is known about the benefits of EPA-only supplementation for the general healthy population. Almega<sup>®</sup>PL is a polar rich oil (>15%) derived from the microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> that contains EPA (>25%) with no DHA. Participants (<i>n</i> = 120) were given a capsule of 1 g/day of either Almega<sup>®</sup>PL or placebo for 12 weeks. Differences in the Omega-3 Index, cardiometabolic markers, and other general health indicators were measured at the baseline, six, and 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo group, Almega<sup>®</sup>PL supplementation significantly increased the Omega-3 Index and EPA concentration from 4.96 ± 0.90 and 0.82 ± 0.37% at the baseline to 5.75 ± 0.90 and 1.27 ± 0.36 at week 12, respectively. Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) decreased by 25%, which resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol compared to the placebo. Interestingly, the decrease in VLDL was not associated with an increase in LDL, which seems to be a benefit associated with EPA-only based formulations. Collectively, these results show that Almega<sup>®</sup>PL provides a natural EPA-only option to increase EPA and manage cholesterol levels in the general population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:57:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6369d79b9bdc4e3d960769b2d846a8d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:57:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-6369d79b9bdc4e3d960769b2d846a8d92023-11-20T04:40:31ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-06-01126186910.3390/nu12061869Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation StudyAmanda Rao0David Briskey1Jakob O Nalley2Eneko Ganuza3RDC Clinical, Brisbane 4006, AustraliaRDC Clinical, Brisbane 4006, AustraliaQualitas Health, Houston, TX 77056, USAQualitas Health, Houston, TX 77056, USAThe aim of this trial is to assess the effect of Almega<sup>®</sup>PL on improving the Omega-3 Index, cardio-metabolic parameters, and other biomarkers in generally healthy individuals. The benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health are primarily built upon mixtures of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA). Highly purified EPA therapy has proven to be particularly effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, but less is known about the benefits of EPA-only supplementation for the general healthy population. Almega<sup>®</sup>PL is a polar rich oil (>15%) derived from the microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> that contains EPA (>25%) with no DHA. Participants (<i>n</i> = 120) were given a capsule of 1 g/day of either Almega<sup>®</sup>PL or placebo for 12 weeks. Differences in the Omega-3 Index, cardiometabolic markers, and other general health indicators were measured at the baseline, six, and 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo group, Almega<sup>®</sup>PL supplementation significantly increased the Omega-3 Index and EPA concentration from 4.96 ± 0.90 and 0.82 ± 0.37% at the baseline to 5.75 ± 0.90 and 1.27 ± 0.36 at week 12, respectively. Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) decreased by 25%, which resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol compared to the placebo. Interestingly, the decrease in VLDL was not associated with an increase in LDL, which seems to be a benefit associated with EPA-only based formulations. Collectively, these results show that Almega<sup>®</sup>PL provides a natural EPA-only option to increase EPA and manage cholesterol levels in the general population.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1869long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acidseicosapentaenoic acidpolar lipidsgalactolipidscardiovascular healthcholesterol |
| spellingShingle | Amanda Rao David Briskey Jakob O Nalley Eneko Ganuza Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study Nutrients long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid polar lipids galactolipids cardiovascular health cholesterol |
| title | Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study |
| title_full | Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study |
| title_fullStr | Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study |
| title_short | Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga <i>Nannochloropsis</i> Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study |
| title_sort | omega 3 eicosapentaenoic acid epa rich extract from the microalga i nannochloropsis i decreases cholesterol in healthy individuals a double blind randomized placebo controlled three month supplementation study |
| topic | long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid polar lipids galactolipids cardiovascular health cholesterol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1869 |
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