N-3 PUFA are important for human health and nutrition. Unfortunately, the land-based n-3 ALA is a limited precursor for the formation of n-3 LC-PUFA. The conversion of ALA depends on the rate-limiting ∆6-desaturation.~The first objective of this study is to investigate differences of the accumulation of n-3 LC-PUFA (EPA, DPA and DHA) in human lipids during supplementation of ALA-rich linseed oil dependent on age, gender and physiological conditions (overweight, increased serum total cholesterol). One study group will receive fish oil with mainly EPA as positive control.~The second objective is to compare the n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment during the linseed oil supplementation (study LSEP H50-KK) with the n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment during the further Echium oil supplementation (study LSEP H42-KK). The second study will be the control for the first study.~Therefore, it is planned to recruit the same subjects for the linseed oil supplementation.~Eighty volunteers will be recruited and allocated into four study groups depending on age and BMI. Three groups (each n=20) will receive daily ca. 15 g linseed oil (mean age: 25 and 55 years; mean BMI < 25; and mean age 55 and BMI > 25). One group (n=20) will receive n-3PUFA free olive oil (mean age 25 and 55, BMI < 25). The double-blind, randomized, parallel-designed study will start with a two-weeks run-in period, followed by an eight-weeks supplementation period. After the run-in period, one week and eight weeks of oil supplementation blood will be drawn and 24-h urine will be sampled.~Altogether, the fatty acid distribution after Echium oil and linseed oil supplementation from similar subjects can be statistically analysed.
The objective of this study is to investigate the accumulation of n-3 LC-PUFA (EPA, DPA and DHA) in human lipids by oral supplementation of ALA-rich linseed oil. In addition, the accumulation of n-3 LC-PUFA is compared between subpopulations of different age, gender and physiological conditions (overweight, increased serum total cholesterol).