Supplementation with a cetoleic acid concentrate decreased the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in healthy adults with overweight or obesity. A randomised double-blind controlled clinical trial

Abstract Elevated LDL-cholesterol concentration is a major risk factor for CVD. Regular consumption of marine fish and seafood is associated with a reduced risk of CVD, although the n -3 PUFAs EPA and DHA have no cholesterol-lowering effect when given in physiologically relevant doses. Recent studies have demonstrated a lower LDL-cholesterol concentration in rodents after intake of cetoleic acid (CA, C22:1 n -11), found in pelagic fish species such as herring. The primary aim was to investigate the effect of consuming capsules containing CA on LDL-cholesterol concentration in adults with overweight or obesity. The study was designed as a randomised clinical trial with two arms. Eighty participants were enrolled, and data from 75 participants were included in the statistical analyses. Participants consumed capsules containing either a CA concentrate (CECO group; 1480 mg CA and 232 mg EPA per day) or soyabean oil mixed with an n -3 PUFA concentrate without CA as comparator arm (SOYO3 group; 258 mg EPA/d) for 8 weeks. The within-group changes in LDL-cholesterol were compared using ANCOVA with changes in body fat percentage as covariate. The LDL-cholesterol concentration was decreased from baseline to 8 weeks in the CECO group ( n 37, median −0·1 (quartiles −0·1, 0·0) mmol/l) in comparison to the SOYO3 group ( n 38, median 0·2 (quartiles 0·1, 0·2) mmol/l), with F = 19·35, P = 0·033 and η p 2 = 0·212, corresponding to a 7 % reduction in the CECO group relative to the SOYO3 group. To conclude, 8 weeks of dietary supplementation with CECO decreased the LDL-cholesterol concentration in adults with overweight or obesity.