Effects of eicosapentaenoic acids on remnant-like particles, cholesterol concentrations and plasma fatty acid composition in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Remnant lipoproteins are transient metabolites from chylomicron and/or very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), and remnant hyperlipoproteinemia has recently been reported to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a major component of fish oil, has the following effects: anti-platelet aggregation, vaso-dilation, anti-inflammation, hypotriglyceridemia, and therefore has potential anti-atherosclerotic effects. We measured serum of remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) concentrations, and investigated the effects of EPA on serum RLP-C concentrations in patients with diabetes mellitus. Ten patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were treated with 900-1800 mg EPA ethyl-ester daily for 3 months. We investigated serum RLP-C concentrations and plasma fatty acid composition before and after the administration of EPA. Serum RLP-C concentrations were significantly decreased 3 months after the administration of EPA (from 14.5 +/- 5.3 mg/dL to 3.3 +/- 0.8 mg/dL, P < 0.01). Plasma EPA concentrations and the ratios of EPA to arachidonic acids (AA) were significantly increased during the same period (from 86.2 +/- 12.4 mg/L to 194.6 +/- 27.3 mg/L, P < 0.01, from 0.571 +/- 0.074 to 1.242 +/- 0.163. P < 0.01, respectively). Serum RLP-C concentrations were inversely correlated with the ratios of EPA to AA in plasma (r = -.516, P < 0.05). These results suggested that administration of EPA was effective on remnant hyperlipoproteinemia which was a risk factor for atherosclerosis.