Background
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of death worldwide. CVDs, including for example coronary heart disease (CHD) (leading to myocardial infarction) and cerebrovascular disease (leading to stroke), are mainly due to long progressed atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, which is thought to be developed through subendothelial retention of cholesterol-containing lipoproteins together with cascades of inflammatory responses.
Postprandial triglycerides (TG) are independent risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and their remnants are known to predict CHD, and non-fasting triglyceride levels are a significant risk indicator for CHD. How different foods and nutrients affect postprandial lipemia is therefore a research area of great relevance and importance for cardiovascular health prediction.
A person's unique postprandial lipidemic response is likely attributable to genetics, which has given raised interest in finding genetic variants that affect postprandial lipemia. In addition, visceral adiposity, physical activity, and intake of omega-3 fatty acids can affect the postprandial TG response.
Inconsistent results regarding the beneficial health effects of marine omega-3 fatty acids on CVD morbidity and mortality exist. It is well known that there is a large inter-individual variation in the magnitude of fasting plasma TG change after omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and this inter-individual variation in TG response may explain the inconsistent results regarding intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids and CVD risk.The effect of marine omega-3 fatty acids on CVD risk depends on the dose and type of omega-3 fatty acids. However, very little is known about the inter-individual variation in the postprandial TG response after omega-3 fatty acid intervention and the mechanisms causing this variation.
About the project
Aim
The aim of this project is to elucidate how repeated exposure with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for six weeks affects mean and individual fasting lipids and inflammatory responses and postprandial TG after a high-fat meal with butter (50 g fat) in healthy subjects.
Primary endpoint
- Fasting TG
Secondary endpoints:
- Postprandial TG
- Fasting total cholesterol, free fatty acids (FFA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, Apo A1, Apo B, Apo B-48, and Apo CIII, and lipoprotein subclasses, glucose and insulin
- Fasting plasma cytokines, acute phase proteins and soluble adhesion molecules
- Fasting PBMC gene expressions of genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation
Funding
- Throne Holst Foundation for nutrition research
- European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Grant, agreement No. 80113 (Scientia fellowship)
- GC Rieber provides the fish oil
omega3pt-studien@medisin.uio.no