(06-07-13) Omega-3 fatty acid therapy reduces triglycerides and interleukin-6 in hypertriglyeridemic HIV patients.

Metkus T, Timpone J, Leaf D, Bidwell Goetz M, Harris W, Brown T.
Source
Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are common in HIV-infected patients and residual systemic inflammation is thought to contribute to both of these disorders. We performed a randomized placebo-controlled trial of omega-3-acid (O3A) ethyl esters in HIV-infected patients with hypertriglyceridaemia, hypothesizing that O3A would decrease serum levels of triglycerides, markers of systemic inflammation, and markers of bone turnover.
METHODS:
HIV-infected patients (n = 48 recruited at three sites) with CD4 count >200 cells/ìL, suppressed viral load, and triglycerides >200 mg/dL were randomized to placebo or 3.6 g/d of O3A. Fasting lipid profiles and markers of inflammation and bone turnover were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment.
RESULTS:
Baseline HIV status, lipid profile, bone metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors were similar between the groups. Inflammatory markers were similar between the treatment groups at baseline, except for interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-á, which were higher in the O3A group. The concentration of triglycerides in patients receiving O3A decreased by a median (interquartile range (IQR)) of -34 (-149, 9.5) mg/dL vs. a median increase of 46.5 (-51, 123) mg/dL in the placebo group (P = 0.01). The median percentage change in IL-6 was greater in the O3A group compared with the placebo group [-39% (-63, 12%) vs. 29% (10, 177%), respectively; P = 0.006]. Similar results were observed for TNF-á, but not other inflammatory or bone turnover markers.
CONCLUSIONS:
O3A ethyl esters decreased the concentrations of triglycerides, IL-6 and TNF-á in patients with well-controlled HIV infection and hypertriglyceridaemia. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings and investigate their clinical significance.
© 2013 British HIV Association.

Source: HIV Med. 2013 May 19. doi: 10.1111/hiv.12046. [Epub ahead of print]

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