The effect of a free mackerel-supplemented diet on plasma and lipoprotein lipid concentrations in normolipidemic subjects.

The effect of mackerel consumption on plasma and lipoprotein lipid concentrations was studied in a seven-day experiment in eight healthy, normolipidemic subjects. Participants ate about 100 g mackerel (corresponding to about 2.5-3 g omega 3 fatty acids daily. The mean triglyceride concentrations in total plasma, VLDL, and LDL were significantly reduced by 40, 46.7, and 38.5% respectively after fish consumption. There was also a small (non-significant) reduction of plasma cholesterol and a (significant) increase of the ratio of HDL/total plasma cholesterol. These data show that a moderately increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids by fish food can change lipid characteristics in healthy normolipidemic individuals within a short-time period, even on a free diet.