Incorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations -a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oil

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  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
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Original languageEnglish
Article number145
Pages (from-to)7
JournalLipids in health and disease
Volume10
Publication statusPublished - 22 Aug 2011

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) depends on their chemical form. Superior bioavailability has been suggested for phospholipid (PL) bound omega-3 FA in krill oil, but identical doses of different chemical forms have not been compared.

METHODS: In a double-blinded crossover trial, we compared the uptake of three EPA+DHA formulations derived from fish oil (re-esterified triacylglycerides [rTAG], ethyl-esters [EE]) and krill oil (mainly PL). Changes of the FA compositions in plasma PL were used as a proxy for bioavailability. Twelve healthy young men (mean age 31 y) were randomized to 1680 mg EPA+DHA given either as rTAG, EE or krill oil. FA levels in plasma PL were analyzed pre-dose and 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h after capsule ingestion. Additionally, the proportion of free EPA and DHA in the applied supplements was analyzed.

RESULTS: The highest incorporation of EPA+DHA into plasma PL was provoked by krill oil (mean AUC0-72 h: 80.03 ± 34.71%*h), followed by fish oil rTAG (mean AUC0-72 h: 59.78 ± 36.75%*h) and EE (mean AUC0-72 h: 47.53 ± 38.42%*h). Due to high standard deviation values, there were no significant differences for DHA and the sum of EPA+DHA levels between the three treatments. However, a trend (p = 0.057) was observed for the differences in EPA bioavailability. Statistical pair-wise group comparison's revealed a trend (p = 0.086) between rTAG and krill oil. FA analysis of the supplements showed that the krill oil sample contained 22% of the total EPA amount as free EPA and 21% of the total DHA amount as free DHA, while the two fish oil samples did not contain any free FA.

CONCLUSION: Further studies with a larger sample size carried out over a longer period are needed to substantiate our findings and to determine differences in EPA+DHA bioavailability between three common chemical forms of LC n-3 FA (rTAG, EE and krill oil). The unexpected high content of free EPA and DHA in krill oil, which might have a significant influence on the availability of EPA+DHA from krill oil, should be investigated in more depth and taken into consideration in future trials.

Keywords

    Adult, Animals, Area Under Curve, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical, Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacokinetics, Double-Blind Method, Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacokinetics, Euphausiacea, Fish Oils/pharmacokinetics, Humans, Male, Phospholipids/blood

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@article{db0ae2630b8548e5a83afda367e62ece,
title = "Incorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations -a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oil",
abstract = "BACKGROUND: Bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) depends on their chemical form. Superior bioavailability has been suggested for phospholipid (PL) bound omega-3 FA in krill oil, but identical doses of different chemical forms have not been compared.METHODS: In a double-blinded crossover trial, we compared the uptake of three EPA+DHA formulations derived from fish oil (re-esterified triacylglycerides [rTAG], ethyl-esters [EE]) and krill oil (mainly PL). Changes of the FA compositions in plasma PL were used as a proxy for bioavailability. Twelve healthy young men (mean age 31 y) were randomized to 1680 mg EPA+DHA given either as rTAG, EE or krill oil. FA levels in plasma PL were analyzed pre-dose and 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h after capsule ingestion. Additionally, the proportion of free EPA and DHA in the applied supplements was analyzed.RESULTS: The highest incorporation of EPA+DHA into plasma PL was provoked by krill oil (mean AUC0-72 h: 80.03 ± 34.71%*h), followed by fish oil rTAG (mean AUC0-72 h: 59.78 ± 36.75%*h) and EE (mean AUC0-72 h: 47.53 ± 38.42%*h). Due to high standard deviation values, there were no significant differences for DHA and the sum of EPA+DHA levels between the three treatments. However, a trend (p = 0.057) was observed for the differences in EPA bioavailability. Statistical pair-wise group comparison's revealed a trend (p = 0.086) between rTAG and krill oil. FA analysis of the supplements showed that the krill oil sample contained 22% of the total EPA amount as free EPA and 21% of the total DHA amount as free DHA, while the two fish oil samples did not contain any free FA.CONCLUSION: Further studies with a larger sample size carried out over a longer period are needed to substantiate our findings and to determine differences in EPA+DHA bioavailability between three common chemical forms of LC n-3 FA (rTAG, EE and krill oil). The unexpected high content of free EPA and DHA in krill oil, which might have a significant influence on the availability of EPA+DHA from krill oil, should be investigated in more depth and taken into consideration in future trials.",
keywords = "Adult, Animals, Area Under Curve, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical, Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacokinetics, Double-Blind Method, Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacokinetics, Euphausiacea, Fish Oils/pharmacokinetics, Humans, Male, Phospholipids/blood",
author = "Schuchardt, {Jan Philipp} and Inga Schneider and Henrike Meyer and Juliane Neubronner and {von Schacky}, Clemens and Andreas Hahn",
note = "Funding information: C. von Schacky received speaker{\textquoteright}s honoraria from Solvay/Abbott and grant support from Sanofi-Aventis and Smartfish. He founded Omegametrix, a company offering fatty acid analyses. A. Hahn and J. P. Schuchardt worked as consultants for companies which also produce and merchandise fatty acid supplements. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.",
year = "2011",
month = aug,
day = "22",
doi = "10.1186/1476-511X-10-145",
language = "English",
volume = "10",
pages = "7",
journal = "Lipids in health and disease",
issn = "1476-511X",
publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

}

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Incorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations -a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oil

AU - Schuchardt, Jan Philipp

AU - Schneider, Inga

AU - Meyer, Henrike

AU - Neubronner, Juliane

AU - von Schacky, Clemens

AU - Hahn, Andreas

N1 - Funding information: C. von Schacky received speaker’s honoraria from Solvay/Abbott and grant support from Sanofi-Aventis and Smartfish. He founded Omegametrix, a company offering fatty acid analyses. A. Hahn and J. P. Schuchardt worked as consultants for companies which also produce and merchandise fatty acid supplements. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.

PY - 2011/8/22

Y1 - 2011/8/22

N2 - BACKGROUND: Bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) depends on their chemical form. Superior bioavailability has been suggested for phospholipid (PL) bound omega-3 FA in krill oil, but identical doses of different chemical forms have not been compared.METHODS: In a double-blinded crossover trial, we compared the uptake of three EPA+DHA formulations derived from fish oil (re-esterified triacylglycerides [rTAG], ethyl-esters [EE]) and krill oil (mainly PL). Changes of the FA compositions in plasma PL were used as a proxy for bioavailability. Twelve healthy young men (mean age 31 y) were randomized to 1680 mg EPA+DHA given either as rTAG, EE or krill oil. FA levels in plasma PL were analyzed pre-dose and 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h after capsule ingestion. Additionally, the proportion of free EPA and DHA in the applied supplements was analyzed.RESULTS: The highest incorporation of EPA+DHA into plasma PL was provoked by krill oil (mean AUC0-72 h: 80.03 ± 34.71%*h), followed by fish oil rTAG (mean AUC0-72 h: 59.78 ± 36.75%*h) and EE (mean AUC0-72 h: 47.53 ± 38.42%*h). Due to high standard deviation values, there were no significant differences for DHA and the sum of EPA+DHA levels between the three treatments. However, a trend (p = 0.057) was observed for the differences in EPA bioavailability. Statistical pair-wise group comparison's revealed a trend (p = 0.086) between rTAG and krill oil. FA analysis of the supplements showed that the krill oil sample contained 22% of the total EPA amount as free EPA and 21% of the total DHA amount as free DHA, while the two fish oil samples did not contain any free FA.CONCLUSION: Further studies with a larger sample size carried out over a longer period are needed to substantiate our findings and to determine differences in EPA+DHA bioavailability between three common chemical forms of LC n-3 FA (rTAG, EE and krill oil). The unexpected high content of free EPA and DHA in krill oil, which might have a significant influence on the availability of EPA+DHA from krill oil, should be investigated in more depth and taken into consideration in future trials.

AB - BACKGROUND: Bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) depends on their chemical form. Superior bioavailability has been suggested for phospholipid (PL) bound omega-3 FA in krill oil, but identical doses of different chemical forms have not been compared.METHODS: In a double-blinded crossover trial, we compared the uptake of three EPA+DHA formulations derived from fish oil (re-esterified triacylglycerides [rTAG], ethyl-esters [EE]) and krill oil (mainly PL). Changes of the FA compositions in plasma PL were used as a proxy for bioavailability. Twelve healthy young men (mean age 31 y) were randomized to 1680 mg EPA+DHA given either as rTAG, EE or krill oil. FA levels in plasma PL were analyzed pre-dose and 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h after capsule ingestion. Additionally, the proportion of free EPA and DHA in the applied supplements was analyzed.RESULTS: The highest incorporation of EPA+DHA into plasma PL was provoked by krill oil (mean AUC0-72 h: 80.03 ± 34.71%*h), followed by fish oil rTAG (mean AUC0-72 h: 59.78 ± 36.75%*h) and EE (mean AUC0-72 h: 47.53 ± 38.42%*h). Due to high standard deviation values, there were no significant differences for DHA and the sum of EPA+DHA levels between the three treatments. However, a trend (p = 0.057) was observed for the differences in EPA bioavailability. Statistical pair-wise group comparison's revealed a trend (p = 0.086) between rTAG and krill oil. FA analysis of the supplements showed that the krill oil sample contained 22% of the total EPA amount as free EPA and 21% of the total DHA amount as free DHA, while the two fish oil samples did not contain any free FA.CONCLUSION: Further studies with a larger sample size carried out over a longer period are needed to substantiate our findings and to determine differences in EPA+DHA bioavailability between three common chemical forms of LC n-3 FA (rTAG, EE and krill oil). The unexpected high content of free EPA and DHA in krill oil, which might have a significant influence on the availability of EPA+DHA from krill oil, should be investigated in more depth and taken into consideration in future trials.

KW - Adult

KW - Animals

KW - Area Under Curve

KW - Chemistry, Pharmaceutical

KW - Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacokinetics

KW - Double-Blind Method

KW - Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacokinetics

KW - Euphausiacea

KW - Fish Oils/pharmacokinetics

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Phospholipids/blood

U2 - 10.1186/1476-511X-10-145

DO - 10.1186/1476-511X-10-145

M3 - Article

C2 - 21854650

VL - 10

SP - 7

JO - Lipids in health and disease

JF - Lipids in health and disease

SN - 1476-511X

M1 - 145

ER -

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