Effect of EPA-DHA Supplementation on Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) and Triglycerides in Obese Adolescents with Hypertriglyceridemia

Background: Evaluate the effect of supplementation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) in FEV₁ and triglyceride levels in obese adolescents.

Methods: Single blinded, parallel, clinical trial in two groups of adolescents supplemented with an intake of 3 grams/day of EPA-DHA vs. 3 grams of grenetin for three months. We included adolescents with exogenous obesity with Body Mass Index (BMI) CDC > 95%. All patients underwent anthropometry, lipid profile and spirometry at baseline and study end. They were divided into two groups: G1: EPA-DHE obese and G2: Grenetin obese. Samples analyzed by T Student (paired and independent).

Results: Adolescents were recruited with hypertriglyceridemia > 150 mg/dl, female 45.5%, male 54.5% mean and SD 12 ± 1.3 years. There were 34 patients in G1 and G2: 40 patients. The initial values averages the baseline IC 95% FEV₁ G1 102.27 (106.06 – 98.48), G2 102.18 (106.12 – 98.26), Tiffaneau Index G1: 0.87 (0.90 – 0.84), G2 0.85 (0.83 – 0.88) Triglycerides G1 221.71 (246.10-197.32), G2 190.91 (206.90 – 174.92), Cholesterol G1 169.29 (179.35 – 159.23), G2 157.09 (169.90 – 144.28), HDL G1 32.96 (35.58 – 30.36), G2 33.85 (36.55 – 31.06). After three months, FEV₁ G1 100.39 (104.99 – 95.79), G2 100.80 (105.88 – 95.74), Tiffaneau Index G1 0.83 (0.85 – 0.81), G2 0.86 (0.86 – 0.83) Triglycerides G1 101.00 (117.64 – 84.36), G2 127.09 (149.87 – 104.31), Cholesterol G1 169.88 (181.70 – 158.06), G2 163.32 (176.00 – 148.64), HDL G1 35.95 (40.25 – 31.66), G2 35.81 (38.93 – 32.71). Supplementation with EPA-DHA and grenetine for three months in triglyceride basal levels had only one significant value (p < 0.05), without a significant in FEV1.

Conclusions: Supplementation with EPA-DHA for three months is helpful for reducing basal levels of triglycerides.