• Heidi Grundt, Dennis W T Nilsen, Øyvind Hetland, and Mohammad A Mansoor.
• Department of Medicine, Rogaland Central Hospital, P.O. Box 8100, Stavanger 4068, and University of Bergen, Norway. heidi@madlalia.no
• Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug 1; 23 (4): 491-500.

BackgroundSustained effects following withdrawal of n-3 PUFAs are unknown.MethodsClinical outcome [cardiac death, resuscitation, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina pectoris] was assessed after prolonged wash-out following randomised treatment with high-dosed n-3 PUFAs or corn oil for 12-24 months in 300 acute MI patients. Atherothrombogenic risk markers, serum glucose and markers of lipid peroxidation and inflammation were evaluated in 89 out of the 100 last included patients.ResultsAfter a total median observation period of 45 (range 0-53) months no intergroup difference in prognosis was observed for any of the cardiac events. Favourable effects on serum triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol by n-3 PUFAs were lost after washout, but triglycerides decreased in the corn oil as compared to the n-3 group, P < 0.001. The decline in total cholesterol after withdrawal was similar in both groups. No intergroup difference in the change in thiobarbituric acid-malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein, homocysteine, glucose or blood platelets was noted at sustained follow-up.ConclusionClinical outcome was similar in both patient groups, and the atherothrombogenic risk improvement by n-3 PUFAs was lost after prolonged wash-out. Withdrawal did not affect homocysteine, glucose or markers of lipid peroxidation or inflammation.Copyright 2003 Elsevier Ltd.

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