Evidence for... Omega-3 for high cholesterol

Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk factors: results from a double blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.
Bloedon LT et al.
J Am Coll Nutr. 2008;27:65-74.
In this study, 62 men and postmenopausal women with baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 130 and 200 mg/dL were randomised to 40 g/day of ground flaxseed-containing baked products or matching wheat bran products for 10 weeks while following a low fat, low cholesterol diet. Flaxseed had a modest but short-lived LDL-C lowering effect, reduced lipoprotein a and improved insulin sensitivity.


Fish-oil esters of plant sterols improve the lipid profile of dyslipidemic subjects more than do fish-oil or sunflower oil esters of plant sterols.
Demonty I et al.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84:1534-42.
In healthy hypercholesterolaemic subjects consuming an olive oil-based diet, supplementation with fish oil fatty acid esters of plant sterols (FO-PS) favourably altered the plasma lipid profile by a greater extent than did supplementation with FO alone or sunflower oil esters of plant sterols, which may translate into a greater reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease.


Docosahexaenoic acid restores endothelial function in children with hyperlipidemia: results from the EARLY study.
Engler MM et al.
Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2004;42:672-9.
Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid 1.2 g/day for 6 weeks restored endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in hyperlipidaemic children (ages 9-19 years), whereas the National Cholesterol Education Program Step II diet had only a minimal effect on FMD.