Effects of omega-3 carboxylic acids on lipoprotein particles and other cardiovascular risk markers in high-risk statin-treated patients with residual hypertriglyceridemia: A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial

Abstract

Background: This study examined the effects of a mixture of highly bioavailable omega-3 carboxylic acids (OM3-CA) on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-assessed lipoprotein particle concentrations and sizes and other cardiovascular risk markers in statin-treated patients with fasting triglycerides (TG) ≥2.3 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) and <5.6 mmol/L (500 mg/dL) and at high cardiovascular risk. Methods: After a diet lead-in and statin-stabilization period, 647 patients were randomly assigned to receive capsules of control (olive oil, OO) 4 g/d, OM3-CA 2 g/d (plus OO 2 g/d), or OM3-CA 4 g/d for 6 weeks. Results: Compared with OO, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size was increased with OM3-CA 2 g/d (p∈ 2 (Lp-PLA 2) mass was reduced by 6.2 and 10.7 % with OM3-CA 2 and 4 g/d, respectively, vs. a 0.1 % increase with OO (p∈ 2, in patients with hypertriglyceridemia while taking a statin. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01408303.