Fish oil treatment of interferon-alpha-induced dyslipidaemia: Study in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Objective: Our study was designed to evaluate the role of omega-3 fatty aci ds (OFAs) in reducing serum triglyceride levels in patients with chronic he patitis C receiving treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN alpha). Design: 52 patients (23 males, 29 females) with chronic hepatitis C were ra ndomly assigned to nonblind treatment with IFN alpha 3 million units (MU) t hree times weekly alone (group A) or in combination with OFAs 3 g/day for 6 months (group B). Results: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA serum levels decreased significantly i n both groups compared with baseline, but there was no significant differen ce in HCV RNA levels between the 2 groups. At the end of treatment there wa s a statistically significant difference in ALT levels between patients in group A and in group B (72.15 vs 50.05 IU/L; p = 0.01). A statistically significant increase in triglyceride levels occurred in gro up A during treatment (p = 0.03 vs baseline). In contrast, a statistically significant decrease in triglyceride serum levels occurred in group B (p = 0.001 vs baseline). Conclusion: Concurrent administration of OFAs reversed IFN alpha-induced hy pertriglyceridaemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C.