Effect of n-3 fatty acids and statins on oxidative stress in statin-treated hypercholestorelemic and normocholesterolemic women

Author(s)

Carrepeiro, Mariana Magalhaes ^[1] ; Rogero, Marcelo Macedo ^[2] ; Bertolami, Marcelo Chiara ^[3] ; Botelho, Patricia Borges ^[1] ; Castro, Natalia ^[1] ; Castro, Inar Alves ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Food & Expt Nutr, BR-140550890 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Dante Pazzanese Inst Cardiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ATHEROSCLEROSIS; v. 217, n. 1, p. 171-178, JUL 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 17

Abstract

Introduction: Although the combination of statins with n-3 fatty acids seems to be beneficial under the lipid profile aspect, there is little information about the interaction of these two compounds on oxidative stress. Objective: Evaluate the interaction between statins and n-3 fatty acids on oxidative stress in women, using a 2(2) factorial design. Methods: Forty-three women participated in this crossover design. They were separated into two groups in which 20 were under statin treatment for more than 6 months, and 23 were normolipidemic. Within each group, half of the patients received capsules containing 2.4 g/day of a mixture of EPA and DHA for 6 weeks, while the other half received a mixture of soya and corn oil. After a period of 90 days of washout, the groups were switched, and received the supplementation for 6 weeks more. Results: Statins reduced serum LDL and increased SOD expression. n-3 fatty acids increased the plasma malondialdehyde and SOD activity but reduced catalase expression (p < 0.05). The interaction involving statins and n-3 fatty acids was nearly significant to the serum triacylglycerol reduction (p = 0.054). Conclusion: Combining statins and n-3 fatty acids is an excellent strategy to reduce plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentration in women. However, n-3 fatty acids increased the oxidative stress and the pleiotropic effect of statins seemed to be not enough to counterbalance this result. Our data also suggested that the mechanism by which n-3 fatty acids interfere in oxidative stress can be associated with antioxidant enzymes expression and activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/09296-1 - Use of factorial designs to develop a model to evaluate oil and emulsion oxidation.
• Grantee: Inar Castro Erger
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 07/05770-8 - Effect of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids combined with statins in oxidative stress biomarkers of dislipidemic individuals
• Grantee: Mariana de Magalhães Carrapeiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master