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
What this study found
Almega PL increased omega-3 status and improved some cardiometabolic markers without raising LDL cholesterol. In the active group, the Omega-3 Index rose from 4.96 ± 0.90% at baseline to 5.75 ± 0.90% at week 12, and erythrocyte EPA increased from 0.82 ± 0.37 to 1.27 ± 0.36. In the per-protocol population (n = 104), total cholesterol decreased by 3% and VLDL decreased by 25% versus baseline relative to placebo; week 12 VLDL was 0.66 ± 0.49 in the active group versus 0.89 ± 0.59 with placebo. The extract was well tolerated, with no meaningful LDL increase and no differences in quality of life,…
- Study & population
- Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel trial in generally healthy adult men and women in Brisbane, Australia.
- Intervention
- Active participants took 1 capsule orally once daily with breakfast for 12 weeks.
- Key limitation
- The trial was relatively small and lasted only 12 weeks, which limits inference about long-term clinical outcomes.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
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.