EFFECTS OF FISH-OIL ON SERUM-LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEIN(A) LEVELS IN HETEROZYGOUS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Ten patients (mean age, 49 +/- 14 years) with heterozygous familial hy percholesterolemia who had high levels of lipoprotein (Lp)(a) (>30 mg/ dl) and were receiving chronic treatment with simvastatin were treated with six capsules a day of fish oil for 4 weeks. Each 1-gm fish oil c apsule contained almost 850 mg of omega-3 fatty acids with a ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid:docosahexaenoic acid of 1:1; the total daily dos age of omega-3 fatty acid was 5.1 gm/day. After 2 and 4 weeks of fish oil supplementation, mean serum Lp(a) levels did not change significan tly (baseline, 67 +/- 29 mg/dl; week 2, 68.3 +/- 35 mg/dl; week 4, 60. 6 +/- 26 mg/dl). Triglyceride levels decreased by 23% after 2 weeks (f rom 1.355 +/- 0.38 mmol/L to 1.05 +/- 0.35 mmol/L) and by 33% after 4 weeks (to 0.91 +/- 0.18 mmol/L) (P < 0.001). Total cholesterol and low -density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol showed a less pronounced but st ill statistically significant reduction of 8% (from 7.33 +/- 2.55 mmol /L to 6.76 +/- 1.31 mmol/L) and 9% (from 5.52 +/- 1.98 mmol/L to 5.00 +/- 1.67 mmol/L), respectively, after 2 weeks. A 14% decrease in total cholesterol (to 6.30 +/- 1.36 mmol/L) and LDL cholesterol (to 4.75 +/ - 1.49 mmol/L) (P < 0.05) was seen after 4 weeks. High-density lipopro tein cholesterol did not change significantly. Our results on the effe ct of fish oil on Lp(a) levels must be confirmed by double-blind, plac ebo-controlled studies before any definite conclusion can be drawn.