Table 3.
Fatty acid composition in erythrocytes at baseline and end of study—comparison between verum and placebo groups at baseline (t0) and at 8 weeks (t8) respectively; (Mean values ± standard deviation in %).
| % of Total Fatty Acid | Placebo (n = 22) t0 | Verum (n = 22) t0 | p | Placebo (n = 22) t8 | Verum (n = 22) t8 | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 Index | 4.32 ± 0.35 | 4.18 ± 0.54 | 0.318 | 4.50 ± 0.51 | 5.72 ± 0.66 | <0.001 |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | ||||||
| C22:6ω3 | 3.71 ± 0.40 | 3.64 ± 0.45 | 0.609 | 3.87 ± 0.45 | 4.75 ± 0.60 | <0.001 |
| C20:5ω3 | 0.61 ± 0.16 | 0.54 ± 0.18 | 0.175 | 0.63 ± 0.19 | 0.97 ± 0.27 | <0.001 |
| C18:3ω3 | 0.14 ± 0.04 | 0.17 ± 0.06 | 0.056 | 0.18 ± 0.08 | 0.15 ± 0.05 | 0.170 |
| C22:5ω3 | 2.41 ± 0.47 | 2.43 ± 0.42 | 0.868 | 2.69 ± 0.44 | 2.69 ± 0.43 | 0.995 |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | ||||||
| C20:4ω6 | 15.64 ± 1.59 | 15.40 ± 1.57 | 0.625 | 16.49 ± 1.35 | 15.54 ± 1.55 | 0.036 |
| C18:2ω6 | 11.14 ± 1.98 | 10.86 ± 1.36 | 0.579 | 11.96 ± 1.46 | 11.33 ± 1.68 | 0.187 |
| C18:3ω6 | 0.09 ± 0.06 | 0.08 ± 0.04 | 0.745 | 0.09 ± 0.03 | 0.07 ± 0.03 | 0.046 |
| C20:2ω6 | 0.23 ± 0.05 | 0.24 ± 0.04 | 0.397 | 0.22 ± 0.04 | 0.21 ± 0.04 | 0.261 |
| C20:3ω6 | 1.88 ± 0.41 | 1.93 ± 0.50 | 0.712 | 1.97 ± 0.36 | 1.82 ± 0.44 | 0.240 |
| C22:4ω6 | 3.54 ± 0.60 | 3.52 ± 0.62 | 0.931 | 3.49 ± 0.68 | 3.14 ± 0.73 | 0.113 |
| C22:5ω6 | 0.77 ± 0.19 | 0.80 ± 0.16 | 0.510 | 0.73 ± 0.16 | 0.64 ± 0.23 | 0.165 |
| Saturated fatty acids | ||||||
| C14:0 | 0.46 ± 0.33 | 0.38 ± 0.09 | 0.299 | 0.30 ± 0.10 | 0.33 ± 0.11 | 0.268 |
| C16:0 | 21.67 ± 0.96 | 21.83 ± 0.80 | 0.555 | 21.66 ± 1.11 | 22.44 ± 1.16 | 0.029 |
| C18:0 | 18.39 ± 3.77 | 18.40 ± 3.81 | 0.987 | 16.27 ± 1.13 | 16.69 ± 2.82 | 0.526 |
| C20:0 | 0.14 ± 0.05 | 0.14 ± 0.04 | 0.947 | 0.13 ± 0.03 | 0.13 ± 0.03 | 0.504 |
| C22:0 | 0.26 ± 0.10 | 0.25 ± 0.09 | 0.708 | 0.40 ± 0.11 | 0.36 ± 0.10 | 0.187 |
| C24:0 | 0.89 ± 0.46 | 0.73 ± 0.43 | 0.242 | 0.64 ± 0.28 | 0.64 ± 0.33 | 0.938 |
| Cis-monounsaturated fatty acids | ||||||
| C16:1ω7 | 0.37 ± 0.16 | 0.58 ± 0.74 | 0.195 | 0.37 ± 0.17 | 0.41 ± 0.15 | 0.447 |
| C18:1ω9 | 15.41 ± 1.28 | 15.95 ± 1.47 | 0.200 | 16.06± 0.65 | 15.92 ± 1.13 | 0.628 |
| C20:1ω9 | 0.28 ± 0.06 | 0.28 ± 0.04 | 0.903 | 0.30 ± 0.06 | 0.28 ± 0.05 | 0.070 |
| C24:1ω9 | 0.92±0.29 | 0.80 ± 0.29 | 0.192 | 0.77 ± 0.17 | 0.78 ± 0.25 | 0.910 |
| Trans fatty acids | ||||||
| C18:2ω6tt | 0.16 ± 0.13 | 0.19 ± 0.13 | 0.454 | 0.06 ± 0.05 | 0.07 ± 0.06 | 0.695 |
| C18:2ω6ct | 0.05 ± 0.03 | 0.05± 0.03 | 0.722 | 0.03 ± 0.04 | 0.02 ± 0.01 | 0.578 |
| C18:2ω6tc | 0.09 ± 0.03 | 0.09 ± 0.04 | 0.969 | 0.06 ± 0.03 | 0.06 ± 0.03 | 0.889 |
| C18:1ω9t | 0.47 ± 0.24 | 0.60 ± 0.31 | 0.152 | 0.47 ± 0.15 | 0.45 ± 0.14 | 0.542 |
| C16:1ω7t | 0.11 ± 0.03 | 0.11 ± 0.03 | 0.702 | 0.15 ± 0.05 | 0.13 ± 0.04 | 0.136 |
Notes: t0, time point for screening visit; t8, time point for end of study visit; p = p-value. Significant differences in the comparison of baseline to end of study fatty acid compositions in placebo and verum group.