Original Article

Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 527–530. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101762; published online 19 April 2005

Continual supplementation with n-3 fatty acids does not modify plasma lipid profile in spinal cord injury patients

C Javierre1, J Vidal2, R Segura1, J Medina2 and E Garrido1,3

  1. 1Department of Physiological Sciences II, Medical School, Campus of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Barcelona University, Spain
  2. 2Guttmann Institut of Barcelona, Spain
  3. 3Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology Unit, Hospital General of Catalonia, Spain

Correspondence: C Javierre, Department of Physiological Sciences II, Medical School, Campus of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), University of Barcelona, Ctra. Feixa Llarga s/n, 08,907-L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain

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Abstract

Study design:

 

A prospective study during a diet modification.

Objective:

 

To observe the evolution of the plasma lipid profile in a group of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients given a supplement of a mixture of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Setting:

 

Department of Physiological Sciences II, Medical School of the University of Barcelona and Guttmann Institut of Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.

Methods:

 

A total of 19 adult males with SCI, 17 with paraplegia and two with tetraplegia, were given a daily supplement of 1.5 g of DHA and 0.75 g of EPA for 6 months. Determination of plasma values of DHA, EPA, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c, triglycerides, and glucose was performed before supplementation and at 3 and 6 months of supplementation.

Results:

 

A statistically significant increase in the plasma concentration of EPA (F=30.556, P<0.05) and DHA (F=106.6, P<0.05) was observed after 3 and 6 months of supplementation. However, there were no observable differences in the plasma concentration of total-cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and triglycerides during the study.

Conclusion:

 

DHA–EPA supplementation for 6 months does not modify the glycemic and lipid plasmatic levels in SCI patients. Despite its absence of effect on the serum lipid profile, n-3 fatty acids may induce beneficial cardiovascular effects in this population.

Keywords:

spinal cord injury, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, plasma lipid profile, n-3 fatty acids

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