Fish oil treatment and apolipoprotein(a)

Two recent reports showed a lowering of elevated lipoprotein(a) levels upon treatment with fish oil. The aim of this paper was to confirm this finding and to establish a dose-effect relationship. A double blind, placebo controlled cross-over study was carried out in 48 subjects with apolipoprotein(a) ("Apo(a)") values between 34 and 1062 U/l (median 387 U/l). The subjects were divided into 3 groups receiving 3.5, 7.1 and 10.6 g omega-3 fatty acids/day during 28 days. Parameters measured were blood levels of eicosapentaenoic acid ("EPA"), Apo(a) and fasting blood lipids. EPA levels rose in the three dosage groups by factors 7, 9 and 14, respectively, if compared to values upon placebo. Triglycerides were significantly lowered in a dose depending manner. Apo(a), however, was not changed. This held true for different baseline Apo(a) values and different fish oil dosages. It is concluded that fish oil treatment during 4 weeks cannot lower elevated Apo(a) levels.