Effect of hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) fish in hypercholesterolemic subjects

Tenualosa ilisha is a popular, tasty fish found in the rivers of Bangladesh round the year. The fish is rich in oil which provides mainly 16:0 and 18:1 fatty acids but also a little of w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (w-3 PUFAs). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of eating hilsa fish in hypercholesterolemic subjects. The fish was indeed found to have hypocholesterolemic effect in subjects who had hypercholesterolemia. After 10 months of eating 100g hilsa fish per day, serum total cholesterol level fell from 285.1 to 244.6 mg/dl (14.2% decrease) in the hypercholesterolemic subjects. But the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.05). The fall in total cholesterol was exclusively due to fall in LDL-cholesterol. Serum triglyceride, serum HDL-cholesterol increased in the experimental subjects by 12.5%. On the other hand, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not changed in control subjects. Both in control and experimental subjects there were no changes in body weight and blood pressure during the study period. The results indicate that hilsa fish, although it is fatty and contains cholesterol, but it may reduce blood cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemic subjects.