The ALA, DHA and EPA Esters in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases. (OMEGA)

The Use of Alpha-linolenic (ALA), Docosahexaenoic (DHA) and Eicosapanthene (EPA) Esters in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in Adults.

Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (EFAs) have a significant impact on human health, even before birth. Their supplementation is recommended at all ages, especially in people with cardiolovascular risks. The most valuable proven action of EFAs is the improvement of the lipid profile (including increase in HDL, the so-called "good cholesterol" and lowering LDL, the so-called "bad cholesterol"), preventing the development of atherosclerosis, strokes and heart attacks.

We distinguish three fractions of EFAs: EPA, DHA and ALA. The best known are EPA and DHA, but in recent years the interest in ALA fraction has increased, as it is the only fraction that has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties, but also only ALA is not produced by the human body and must be supplied with food.

We believe that the supplementation of the ALA fraction is as important as the supplementation of the well-known and recommended EPA and DHA fractions, moreover it also brings unique benefits. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the benefits of EFAs in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the group of adults. In the project, we also want to compare the benefits of supplementing various fractions.

Each volunteer will be randomly assigned to one of 4 groups. Group No. 1 will be a group without the supplementation of essential fatty acids (EFAs), group No. 2 will receive supplementation with pure ALA fraction, group No. 3 will receive supplementation with EPA and DHA fractions, and group No. 4 will receive supplementation with all fractions, i.e. ALA, EPA and DHA. All persons from groups 1-4 will be examined three times: at the beginning, after three months and after six months (at the end of the project). The tests will include: blood pressure measurements, non-invasive measurements of body mass and composition, and laboratory tests: CRP, fasting glucose, lipid profile, and blood count.

Both preparations for acid supplementation and tests are completely free for participants.

Participation in the study is voluntary and is not associated with any health risk.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Cardiovascular Diseases; Preventive Medicine; Fatty Acids; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Preventive Health Services; Alpha-Linolenic Acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Tests; Drug: Fatty Acids, Unsaturated

Detailed Description

Supplementation of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (EFAs) in patients is recommended by cardiological, diabetic, hypertensive and gynecological societies. The project aims to demonstrate the benefits of following these recommendations in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the adult group. Most of the research focuses only on EPA and DHA fractions, while in view of the publications on the health-promoting properties of the ALA fraction, which is the only one that is only exogenous and has clear anti-inflammatory properties, in the project we also want to compare the benefits of supplementation of esters of individual EFA fractions. We intend to conduct a clinical trial with a control sample and 3 study groups randomly assigned to each group. The groups will consist of 50 people, which means that the research project will involve 200 people in total. The control group will be a group without EFA supplementation, the first experimental group will receive supplementation with pure ALA fraction of EFAs esters, the second experimental group will receive supplementation of the EPA and DHA fraction of EFAs esters, and the third experimental group will receive supplementation of the ALA, EPA and DHA fraction of EFAs esters. All participants will have laboratory tests marking: CRP, fasting glucose, lipid profile, total blood count, and additional tests, which will include blood pressure measurements and measurements of body mass and composition on a specialized body composition analyzer (InBody 270). All the above-mentioned tests will be performed at the time of joining the research program, after 3 months (in the middle of the research program) and after 6 months (at the end of the research program).

The aim of the study is to determine whether the supplementation of the ALA fraction esters of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids is as important as the supplementation of their EPA and DHA fraction esters, and whether it brings additional unique benefits related to its pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. This comparison is particularly important in the group of adults, as early and effective intervention may contribute to improving health, quality of life, increasing life expectancy and reducing treatment costs, and cardiovascular diseases as lifestyle diseases are one of the most common in the world and concern younger and younger people. The project's feasibility is assessed positively as the project has significant scientific potential. The discussed topic is up-to-date and the size of the studied group guarantees reliable results and gathering such a group remains possible. The importance of using EFAs in medicine is constantly increasing, and research using them gives promising results.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 200
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Dolny Slask
    • Wroclaw, Dolny Slask, Poland, 51-141
      • Department of Family Medicine at Wroclaw Medical University
    • Wroclaw, Dolny Slask, Poland, 53-603
      • Model Practice of a Family Doctor Maria Bujnowska-Fedak
    • Wroclaw, Dolny Slask, Poland, 53-603
      • TIGmed Private Medical Practice

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• adults of both sexes in good general condition.

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy, acute diseases or uncontrolled / unchecked chronic diseases, indications for absolute treatment with lipid-lowering drugs or its modification, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, use of warfarin or heparin.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Control Group; The control group will be a group without EFA supplementation.	Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Tests; All participants will have laboratory tests marking: CRP, fasting glucose, lipid profile, total blood count, and additional tests, which will include blood pressure measurements and measurements of body mass and composition on a specialized body composition analyzer (InBody 270). All the mentioned tests will be performed at the time of joining the research program, after 3 months (in the middle of the research program) and after 6 months (at the end of the research program).; Other Names: Laboratory and Additional Tests
EXPERIMENTAL: 1st Experimental Group; The first experimental group will receive supplementation with pure ALA fraction of EFA esters. 5 ml a day of OmegaRegen Original containing 2.9 g of ALA, 0.9 g of oleic acid and 0.8 g of linoleic acid for six months.	Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Tests; All participants will have laboratory tests marking: CRP, fasting glucose, lipid profile, total blood count, and additional tests, which will include blood pressure measurements and measurements of body mass and composition on a specialized body composition analyzer (InBody 270). All the mentioned tests will be performed at the time of joining the research program, after 3 months (in the middle of the research program) and after 6 months (at the end of the research program).; Other Names: Laboratory and Additional Tests; Drug: Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; All participants from Experimental Groups will receive supplementation of different fractions of EFAs esters for six months daily. Control Group will be monitored with the same tests, but will not receive any supplementation.; Other Names: OmegaRegen; Esters of Unsaturated Fatty Acids; EFA
EXPERIMENTAL: 2nd Experimental Group; The second test group will receive supplementation of the EPA and DHA fraction of EFA esters. 5 ml a day of OmegaRegen EPA+DHA containing 0.032 g of EPA, 0.192 g of DHA, 0.9 g of oleic acid and 0.8 g of linoleic acid for six months.	Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Tests; All participants will have laboratory tests marking: CRP, fasting glucose, lipid profile, total blood count, and additional tests, which will include blood pressure measurements and measurements of body mass and composition on a specialized body composition analyzer (InBody 270). All the mentioned tests will be performed at the time of joining the research program, after 3 months (in the middle of the research program) and after 6 months (at the end of the research program).; Other Names: Laboratory and Additional Tests; Drug: Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; All participants from Experimental Groups will receive supplementation of different fractions of EFAs esters for six months daily. Control Group will be monitored with the same tests, but will not receive any supplementation.; Other Names: OmegaRegen; Esters of Unsaturated Fatty Acids; EFA
EXPERIMENTAL: 3rd Experimental Group; The second test group will receive supplementation of the EPA and DHA fraction of EFA esters. 5 ml a day of OmegaRegen MAMA containing 2.9 g of ALA, 0.032 g of EPA, 0.192 g of DHA, 0.9 g of oleic acid and 0.8 g of linoleic acid for six months.	Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Tests; All participants will have laboratory tests marking: CRP, fasting glucose, lipid profile, total blood count, and additional tests, which will include blood pressure measurements and measurements of body mass and composition on a specialized body composition analyzer (InBody 270). All the mentioned tests will be performed at the time of joining the research program, after 3 months (in the middle of the research program) and after 6 months (at the end of the research program).; Other Names: Laboratory and Additional Tests; Drug: Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; All participants from Experimental Groups will receive supplementation of different fractions of EFAs esters for six months daily. Control Group will be monitored with the same tests, but will not receive any supplementation.; Other Names: OmegaRegen; Esters of Unsaturated Fatty Acids; EFA

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Better glucose tolerance.	Decrease/normalization in fasting glucose level.	6 months
Improvement in lipid metabolism.	Decrease/normalization in lipid profile.	6 months
Lowering inflammatory markers.	Decrease of inflammatory markers.	6 months
Lowering blood pressure.	Decrease/normalization of blood pressure.	6 months
Improving blood count parameters	Normalization of total blood count values.	6 months
Lowering body weight.	Decrease of body weight, especially visceral adipose tissue.	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wroclaw Medical University
• Investigators: Study Director: Maria M Bujnowska-Fedak, MD, PhD, Departament of Family Medicine at Wroclaw Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): December 9, 2020
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): December 31, 2021
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): June 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 2, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 2, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): February 8, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): February 8, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 2, 2021
• Last Verified: December 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: DHA; EPA; ALA; Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids; EFA; EFAs; Esters
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: KB-596/2020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No