Health Beneficial Effects of Krill Oil and Lean and Fatty Fish

Oslo Metropolitan University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Krill oil; Dietary Supplement: Placebo capsules; Other: Lean and fatty fish

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT02568228

2015/706/REK sør-øst C

Details and patient eligibility

About

Intake of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from fish oil and fish are associated with significant health benefits in risk of cardiovascular disease. However, both lean and fatty fish have been shown to have beneficial effects suggesting that not all effects are mediated by n-3 PUFAs. Krill oil is an n-3 PUFA supplement on the marked. The n-3 PUFAs from krill oil is in the form of phospholipids, and these fatty acids may be more readily and effectively absorbed after ingestion than n-3 PUFAs in the form of triacylglycerols from fish oil. Fish also contain many other potential health components than n-3 PUFAs such as taurine and vitamin D, iodine, selenium and more unspecified components such as bioactive peptides which can mediate the health beneficial effects observed after intake of fish.

The present study aims to elucidate the cardiovascular health beneficial effects after consumption of fish (lean and fatty) and krill oil, with regard to effects on plasma lipids and other markers of cardiovascular health such as inflammatory, haemostatic and endothelial dysfunction markers. The investigators will perform whole genome transcriptome analyses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in order to further understand the cardiovascular health benefits and elucidate the mechanisms of action.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy volunteers (CRP < 10 mg/L)
• Stable weight (± 5 % of body weight) the last three months
• BMI 18.5-35 kg/m2
• Fasting triglycerides 1.3-4.0 mmol/L
• Willingness to eat fish
• Willingness to not take omega-3 or other dietary supplements during the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Any chronic disease, including diabetes type 1 or 2. CVD or cancer past 6 months
• Elevated thyroid hormones or TSH levels
• Elevated total cholesterol (>7.8 mmol/L) or fasting triglycerides (>4.0 mmol/L)
• Use of prescription drugs that may affect triglycerides (e.g. diabetes drugs, Cyclosporin A, Orlistat and Sibutramine), except statins if stable dose past 3 months.
• Blood pressure > 160/100 mmHg
• Hormone treatment (except stable doses the past three months of contraceptives or thyroxine)
• Planned weight loss
• The use of Vita Proactive or other food items enriched with plant sterols
• Excessive alcohol consumption (>40 g/day)
• Habitual fish consumption of more than one serving of fatty fish per week

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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40 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Krill group

Experimental group

Description:

Krill oil capsules. 4 g/day encapsulated krill oil (Rimfrost Sublime) corresponding to \~900 mg/day EPA + DHA + DPA for 8 weeks. The participants will be instructed to take the capsules with the breakfast and dinner meals.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Krill oil

Fish group

Experimental group

Description:

Lean and fatty fish. Three weekly test-meals, containing two meals of fatty fish and one meal of lean fish for 8 weeks corresponding to \~900 mg/day EPA + DHA + DPA.

Treatment:

Other: Lean and fatty fish

Control group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo capsules. 4 g/day encapsulated high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) for 8 weeks. The participants will be instructed to take the capsules with the breakfast and dinner meals.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo capsules