• H Grundt, D W T Nilsen, M A Mansoor, and A Nordøy.
• Department of Clinical Chemistry, Central Hospital in Rogaland, POB 8100, 4068 Stavanger, Norway. heidi@madlalia.no
• Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jun 1; 57 (6): 793-800.

ObjectiveTo assess the oxidative burden of a highly concentrated compound of n-3 PUFAs as compared to corn oil by measuring thiobarbituric acid-malondialdehyde complex (TBA-MDA) by HPLC. We also studied the influence on TBA-MDA of statins combined with n-3 PUFAs or corn oil.DesignA prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled study.SettingOne hospital centre in Stavanger, Norway.SubjectsA total of 300 subjects with an acute myocardial infarction (MI).InterventionsGelatine capsules, containing 850-882 mg EPA and DHA as concentrated ethylesters, or 1 g of corn oil, were ingested in a dose of two capsules twice a day for at least 1 y. Alpha-tocopherol (4 mg) was added to all capsules to protect the PUFAs against oxidation.ResultsAfter 1 y TBA-MDA increased modestly in the n-3 PUFA group (n=125), as compared to the corn oil group (n=130), P=0.027. Multiple linear regression analyses of fatty acids in serum total phospholipids (n=56) on TBA-MDA measured after 12 months intervention, showed no dependency. Performing best subsets regression, serum phospholipid concentration of arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6 PUFA) was identified as a predictor of TBA-MDA at 12 months follow-up, P=0.004. We found no impact of statins on TBA-MDA.ConclusionTBA-MDA increased modestly after long-term intervention with n-3 PUFAs compared to corn oil post-MI, suggesting biological changes induced by n-3 PUFAs, rather than simply reflecting their concentration differences. The peroxidative potential of n-3 PUFAs was not modified by statin treatment.Sponsorship: Pharmacia A/S and Pronova A/S, Norway.

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