BACKGROUND: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (long-chain omega-3 PUFA) have proved to be beneficial in atherosclerosis, arrhythmia and hypertriglyceridemia in several studies, which has led national and international societies to recommend an intake of 1 g/d long-chain omega-3 PUFA for anti-atherosclerotic and antiarrhythmic purposes or 2-4 g/d for a lipid lowering effect. Numerous preparations are marketed for supplementing western diet, which is low in long-chain omega-3 PUFA. Since these preparations vary in their long-chain omega-3 PUFA content, we tested nine commercially available products for their fatty acid composition. METHODS: Nine commercially available omega-3 fatty acid supplements were analyzed using capillary gas chromatography to determine their fatty acid content. RESULTS: The nine preparations showed huge differences, up to 63.7 +/- 1.58 mol% (P = 0.002), in their longchain omega-3 fatty acid content. Most of them failed to achieve the daily recommended dose of 1 g, even when administered at the highest dosage according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Eight of the preparations contained either equal or significantly greater amounts of long-chain omega-3 PUFA than denoted by the manufacturer; one preparation did not provide any information. The highest percentage of DHA and EPA was detected in Omacor(95.80 +/- 0.63%) and Percucor (76.8 +/- 7.109%). CONCLUSION: Administering long-chain omega-3 fatty acid preparations may result in huge differences in terms of the actual amount ingested. It is therefore advisable to use the most standardized and purified products available.
BACKGROUND:Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (long-chain omega-3 PUFA) have proved to be beneficial in atherosclerosis, arrhythmia and hypertriglyceridemia in several studies, which has led national and international societies to recommend an intake of 1 g/d long-chain omega-3 PUFA for anti-atherosclerotic and antiarrhythmic purposes or 2-4 g/d for a lipid lowering effect. Numerous preparations are marketed for supplementing western diet, which is low in long-chain omega-3 PUFA. Since these preparations vary in their long-chain omega-3 PUFA content, we tested nine commercially available products for their fatty acid composition. METHODS: Nine commercially available omega-3 fatty acid supplements were analyzed using capillary gas chromatography to determine their fatty acid content. RESULTS: The nine preparations showed huge differences, up to 63.7 +/- 1.58 mol% (P = 0.002), in their longchain omega-3 fatty acid content. Most of them failed to achieve the daily recommended dose of 1 g, even when administered at the highest dosage according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Eight of the preparations contained either equal or significantly greater amounts of long-chain omega-3 PUFA than denoted by the manufacturer; one preparation did not provide any information. The highest percentage of DHA and EPA was detected in Omacor(95.80 +/- 0.63%) and Percucor (76.8 +/- 7.109%). CONCLUSION: Administering long-chain omega-3 fatty acid preparations may result in huge differences in terms of the actual amount ingested. It is therefore advisable to use the most standardized and purified products available.
Authors: Nahed Hussein; Eric Ah-Sing; Paul Wilkinson; Clare Leach; Bruce A Griffin; D Joe Millward Journal: J Lipid Res Date: 2004-12-01 Impact factor: 5.922
Authors: Jonathan G Howlett; Robert S McKelvie; J Malcolm O Arnold; Jeannine Costigan; Paul Dorian; Anique Ducharme; Estrellita Estrella-Holder; Justin A Ezekowitz; Nadia Giannetti; Haissam Haddad; George A Heckman; Anthony M Herd; Debra Isaac; Philip Jong; Simon Kouz; Peter Liu; Elizabeth Mann; Gordon W Moe; Ross T Tsuyuki; Heather J Ross; Michel White Journal: Can J Cardiol Date: 2009-02 Impact factor: 5.223