Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga Nannochloropsis Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study
1
RDC Clinical, Brisbane 4006, Australia
2
School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
3
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4067, Australia
4
Qualitas Health, Houston, TX 77056, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2020, 12(6), 1869; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061869
Received: 26 May 2020 / Revised: 18 June 2020 / Accepted: 20 June 2020 / Published: 23 June 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Bioactive Compounds for Health Benefits and Nutrition)
The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of Almega®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®PL is a polar rich oil (>15%) derived from the microalga Nannochloropsis that contains EPA (>25%) with no DHA. Participants (n = 120) were given a capsule of 1 g/day of either Almega®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®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®PL provides a natural EPA-only option to increase EPA and manage cholesterol levels in the general population.
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Keywords:
long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; eicosapentaenoic acid; polar lipids; galactolipids; cardiovascular health; cholesterol; very-low-density lipoprotein; dietary supplements; microalgae; Nannochloropsis
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MDPI and ACS Style
Rao, A.; Briskey, D.; Nalley, J.O.; Ganuza, E. Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga Nannochloropsis Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study. Nutrients 2020, 12, 1869.
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