The use of potent antiretroviral therapy significantly alters lipid profiles in HIV-infected patients.

It’s clear that fish oil reduces triglyceride blood levels in patients without HIV infection. Now, this study evaluates fish oil to control blood triglyceride levels in patients with HIV.

Here are the details.

• 122 HIV patients with high triglyceride levels
• Randomly assigned to 8 weeks to N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (2 capsules containing 1 gram of fish oil 3 times daily, or placebo.

Highlights of the results.

• After 8 weeks triglyceride blood levels declined 25%.
• Triglyceride levels returned to the normal range in 22% of patients taking fish oil vs 6.5% of patients taking placebo.
• No significant differences between groups in adverse events.

This study demonstrates the value of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to lower high triglyceride levels in HIV-infected patients during potent antiretroviral therapy.

4/3/07 21:08 JR