| Title | Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid versus docosahexaenoic acid on serum lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis. | | Author(s) | Wei MY, Jacobson TA | | Institution | Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. mywei@emory.edu | | Source | Curr Atheroscler Rep 2011 Dec; 13(6):474-83. | | MeSH | Docosahexaenoic Acids
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Humans
Lipids
| | Abstract | Omega-3 fatty acid supplements containing both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been shown to reduce triglycerides but also increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Whether EPA or DHA given as monotherapy has differential effects on serum lipoproteins has not been systematically evaluated. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of monotherapy with EPA (n=10), DHA (n=17), or EPA versus DHA (n=6). Compared with placebo, DHA raised LDL 7.23 mg/dL (95% CI, 3.98–10.5) whereas EPA non-significantly reduced LDL. In direct comparison studies, DHA raised LDL 4.63 mg/dL (95% CI, 2.15–7.10) more than EPA. Both EPA and DHA reduced triglycerides, with a greater reduction by DHA in direct comparison studies. DHA also raised high-density lipoprotein (4.49 mg/dL; 95% CI, 3.50–5.48) compared with placebo, whereas EPA did not. Although EPA and DHA both reduce triglycerides, they have divergent effects on LDL and high-density lipoprotein. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and significance of these differences. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Comparative Study
Journal Article
Meta-Analysis
Review
| | PubMed ID | 21975919 |
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