Effects of an ethyl ester preparation of fish oils (HIMEGAR) on lipids and lipoproteins in hyperlipidaemia

Clinical trials were conducted to assess the utility of Himega^R in the management of hyperlipidaemia. Himega is an ethyl ester concentrate from fish oil containing at least 50% n-3 fatty acid and minimal cholesterol. In Study 1, 13 subjects with primary hypertriglyceridaemia consumed Himega or a triglyceride-based fish oil in a randomised, double-blind crossover study for 12 weeks. Nine subjects took 2 g/day of n-3 fatty acid but four subjects with marked hypertriglyceridaemia took 4 g/day. Plasma triglycerides were reduced by approximately 50% with either product. There was a very similar effecton all lipid and lipoprotein parameters, including an 18% increase in LDL cholesterol and23% increase in serum apolipoprotein B. In Study 2, nine subjects with primary hypercholesterolaemia took 2 g/day of n-3 fatty acid (Himega) or placebo (olive oil) in a randomised, double-blind crossover study for nine weeks. Plasma cholesterol was reduced by 6%, without significant change in LDL. cholesterol. Fish oils in the form of ethyl esters or triglyceride are assimilated to a similar degree and lead to equivalent triglyceride-lowering in hypertriglyceridaemia, while simultaneously increasing LDL particle numbers. Himega does not reduce LDL levels in hypercholesteraemia, despite being a product with minimalcholesterol content.