Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on plasma lipid, LDL lipoperoxidation, homocysteine and inflammation indicators in diabetic dyslipidemia treated with statin + fibrate combination

Alternative Medicine Review, March, 2006 by M. Zeman, A. Zak, M. Vecka

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine how addition of n-3 polyenic fatty acids (PUFA) to the present treatment with statin + fibrate combination in diabetic dyslipidemia effects plasma lipids and lipoproteins, LDL lipoperoxidation, glucose homeostasis, concentration of serum homocysteine and selected inflammation indicators.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 24 patients with type 2 diabetes, who after the combined hypolipidemic treatment (pravastatin 20 mg + micronized fenofibrate 200 mg per day) cannot reach the recommended target values for long time, received for three consecutive months supplementation of 3,6 g PUFA n-3 per day or a placebo (olive oil). At the beginning of the study, after three months of PUFA supplementation and after another three months of placebo administration, concentrations of plasma lipids, composition of fatty acids, plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC), cholesterol esters (CE) and triglycerides (TG), concentration of tHey, conjugated diens (CD) in LDL and selected inflammation indicators (IL-6, TNFalpha, VCAM-1) were determined, n-3 PUFA supplementation resulted in the significant decrease of tHey concentration (-29%, P < 0.01) and TG (-28%, P < 0.05) in plasma. During the period of placebo administration, values returned to base line levels. CD concentration in LDL after n-3 PUFA increased by 15% (P < 0.15, not significant), meanwhile after the placebo containing oleic acid it decreased by 18% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that n-3 PUFA supplementation together with statin + fibrate combination in DDL patients can significantly decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases.