Continual supplementation with n-3 fatty acids does not modify plasma lipid profile in spinal cord injury patients

Abstract

Study design: A prospective study during a diet modification. Objective: To observe the evolution of the plasma lipid profile in a group of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients given a supplement of a mixture of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Setting: Department of Physiological Sciences II, Medical School of the University of Barcelona and Guttmann Institut of Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. Methods: A total of 19 adult males with SCI, 17 with paraplegia and two with tetraplegia, were given a daily supplement of 1.5g of DHA and 0.75g of EPA for 6 months. Determination of plasma values of DHA, EPA, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c, triglycerides, and glucose was performed before supplementation and at 3 and 6 months of supplementation. Results: A statistically significant increase in the plasma concentration of EPA (F = 30.556, P<0.05) and DHA (F = 106.6, P<0.05) was observed after 3 and 6 months of supplementation. However, there were no observable differences in the plasma concentration of total-cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and triglycerides during the study. Conclusion: DHA-EPA supplementation for 6 months does not modify the glycemic and lipid plasmatic levels in SCI patients. Despite its absence of effect on the serum lipid profile, n-3 fatty acids may induce beneficial cardiovascular effects in this population. © 2005 International Spinal Cord Society. All rights reserved.