The benefits of omega-3 may disappear quickly after stopping
A new study has found that the benefits of a fatty acid known as EPA vary greatly from person to person. Researchers say the findings highlight the critical role individual metabolism plays in protecting against cardiovascular disease.
Scientists in Finland have discovered how eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, affects metabolism and blood fat levels in healthy adults.
While EPA is already known to reduce cardiovascular risk in people with high cholesterol or heart disease, its effects on healthy individuals have not been well understood. Little was known about how EPA is incorporated into lipoproteins, the molecules that transport fat molecules through the bloodstream.
Study of high-dose supplements reveals wide variation
In this research, 38 volunteers were given unusually high doses of EPA supplements. Blood samples were collected before, during, and after supplementation to monitor how the body processes the fatty acid. The results showed significant differences between participants in how their bodies responded to EPA.
“Samples taken during supplementation clearly show the effect of EPA on all participants. However, all samples were different between the group. In other words, each individual had a unique lipoprotein in the circulation, a ‘lipid fingerprint’, if you will, that persisted despite EPA supplementation,” explains Professor Katarina Orne, one of the lead authors from the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, and Wihori Research Institute.
The researchers confirmed that EPA is absorbed efficiently, causing a sharp rise in its concentration in the blood. However, levels decreased rapidly once supplementation was discontinued. The strongest changes were observed in participants who started with low baseline EPA levels.
In addition, EPA improved blood lipid levels and reduced the tendency of lipoproteins to stick to artery walls – an important factor in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Short-term effects and future research
Because the study lasted only a short period, it did not measure long-term outcomes. However, the results reveal that EPA can alter blood lipid composition and influence early risk mechanisms for atherosclerosis even in healthy people.
“The results highlight the importance of metabolism in preventing cardiovascular disease. The effects of EPA varied more between individuals than we expected. We also demonstrated that these effects dissipate quickly, which is good to know in the event of adverse effects of EPA,” says doctoral researcher Lori Icas.
Next, the team plans to study how EPA supplements affect inflammatory cells and the production of fatty mediators that help control inflammation.
“It is interesting to see, for example, how dietary changes affect lipoprotein quality, or the individual lipid fingerprint,” Orne adds.
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