{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T23:23:05Z","timestamp":1790810585886,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,23]],"date-time":"2020-06-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1592870400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of Almega\u00aePL on improving the Omega-3 Index, cardio-metabolic parameters, and other biomarkers in generally healthy individuals. The benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health are primarily built upon mixtures of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA). Highly purified EPA therapy has proven to be particularly effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, but less is known about the benefits of EPA-only supplementation for the general healthy population. Almega\u00aePL is a polar rich oil (&gt;15%) derived from the microalga Nannochloropsis that contains EPA (&gt;25%) with no DHA. Participants (n = 120) were given a capsule of 1 g\/day of either Almega\u00aePL or placebo for 12 weeks. Differences in the Omega-3 Index, cardiometabolic markers, and other general health indicators were measured at the baseline, six, and 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo group, Almega\u00aePL supplementation significantly increased the Omega-3 Index and EPA concentration from 4.96 \u00b1 0.90 and 0.82 \u00b1 0.37% at the baseline to 5.75 \u00b1 0.90 and 1.27 \u00b1 0.36 at week 12, respectively. Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) decreased by 25%, which resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol compared to the placebo. Interestingly, the decrease in VLDL was not associated with an increase in LDL, which seems to be a benefit associated with EPA-only based formulations. Collectively, these results show that Almega\u00aePL provides a natural EPA-only option to increase EPA and manage cholesterol levels in the general population.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12061869","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,23]],"date-time":"2020-06-23T06:11:02Z","timestamp":1592892662000},"page":"1869","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":62,"title":["Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Rich Extract from the Microalga Nannochloropsis Decreases Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Three-Month Supplementation Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0090-9217","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amanda","family":"Rao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"RDC Clinical, Brisbane 4006, Australia"},{"name":"School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Briskey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RDC Clinical, Brisbane 4006, Australia"},{"name":"School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4067, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jakob O","family":"Nalley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Qualitas Health, Houston, TX 77056, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eneko","family":"Ganuza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Qualitas Health, Houston, TX 77056, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2020, April 06). World Health Organization Cardiovascular Diseases Fact Sheet. Available online: http:\/\/www.who.int\/mediacentre\/factsheets\/fs317\/en\/."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"912","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2017.0947","article-title":"Association between dietary factors and mortality from heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes in the United States","volume":"317","author":"Micha","year":"2017","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10282","DOI":"10.3390\/nu7125534","article-title":"Suboptimal plasma long chain n-3 concentrations are common among adults in the United States, NHANES 2003\u20132004","volume":"7","author":"Murphy","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Institute of Medicine (2005). New Dietary Reference Intakes Set for Energy, Carbohydrates, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Adds, Cholesterol, Proteins, and Amino Acids, The National Academies Press. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council (2006). Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2006.02.012","article-title":"Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum markers of cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review","volume":"189","author":"Balk","year":"2006","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"682","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjcard.2011.04.015","article-title":"Eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (AMR101) therapy in patients with very high triglyceride levels (from the Multi-center, plAcebo-controlled, Randomized, double-blINd, 12-week study with an open-label Extension [MARINE] Trial)","volume":"108","author":"Bays","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am. J. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"885","DOI":"10.1093\/ajh\/hpu024","article-title":"Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and blood pressure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"27","author":"Miller","year":"2014","journal-title":"Am. J. Hypertens."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1152","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacl.2017.07.010","article-title":"Use of supplemental long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and risk for cardiac death: An updated meta-analysis and review of research gaps","volume":"11","author":"Maki","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Clin. Lipidol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12944-017-0541-3","article-title":"Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and their mechanisms of action on apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in humans: A review","volume":"16","author":"Oscarsson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Lipids Health Dis."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacl.2011.10.018","article-title":"Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipids: A review","volume":"6","author":"Jacobson","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Clin. Lipidol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1476-511X-12-102","article-title":"Acute appearance of fatty acids in human plasma\u2014A comparative study between polar-lipid rich oil from the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and krill oil in healthy young males","volume":"12","author":"Kagan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Lipids Health Dis."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.18773\/austprescr.1994.101","article-title":"High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol testing: Implications for clinical management","volume":"17","author":"Barter","year":"1994","journal-title":"Aust. Prescr."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.21767\/2386-5180.1000137","article-title":"Measurement of the Omega-3 Index in dried blood spots","volume":"4","author":"Harris","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann. Clin. Lab. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"1","article-title":"The assessment of mood at workplace - psychometric analyses of the revised Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire","volume":"4","author":"Morfeld","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychsoc. Med."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1696","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2019.01696","article-title":"The role of inflammation in depression and fatigue","volume":"10","author":"Lee","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.3928\/0098-9134-19991201-10","article-title":"The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)","volume":"25","author":"Smyth","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Gerontol. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1523-5394.1998.006003143.x","article-title":"A multidimensional measure of fatigue for use with cancer patients","volume":"6","author":"Stein","year":"1998","journal-title":"Cancer Pract."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1177\/2050312116671725","article-title":"SF-36 total score as a single measure of health-related quality of life: Scoping review","volume":"4","author":"Lins","year":"2016","journal-title":"SAGE Open Med."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"(2020, April 06). National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute, Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Dietary Assessment Instrument Profiles, Available online: https:\/\/dietassessmentprimer.cancer.gov\/profiles\/questionnaire\/."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1161\/JAHA.113.000513","article-title":"Determinants of erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acid content in response to fish oil supplementation: A dose-response randomized controlled trial","volume":"2","author":"Flock","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Am. Heart Assoc."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1034","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/nqz161","article-title":"Predicting the effects of supplemental EPA and DHA on the omega-3 index","volume":"110","author":"Walker","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"(2020, April 06). The R Project for Statistical Computing V4.0.0, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. Available online: https:\/\/www.R-project.org\/."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2012","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-2275(20)37132-7","article-title":"Kinetics of the incorporation of dietary fatty acids into serum cholesteryl esters, erythrocyte membranes, and adipose tissue: An 18-month controlled study","volume":"38","author":"Katan","year":"1997","journal-title":"J. Lipid Res."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1997","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/87.6.1997S","article-title":"The omega-3 index as a risk factor for coronary heart disease","volume":"87","author":"Harris","year":"2008","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1016\/j.plipres.2016.05.001","article-title":"Global survey of the omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the blood stream of healthy adults","volume":"63","author":"Stark","year":"2016","journal-title":"Prog. Lipid Res."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"45","article-title":"Eicosapentaenoic acid is primarily responsible for hypotriglyceridemic effect of fish oil in humans","volume":"31","author":"Walen","year":"1996","journal-title":"Lipids"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.plefa.2017.03.008","article-title":"Supplementation with high-dose docosahexaenoic acid increases the Omega-3 Index more than high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid","volume":"120","author":"Allaire","year":"2017","journal-title":"Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"771","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacl.2019.07.001","article-title":"Translating plasma eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations into erythrocyte percentages of eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid during treatment with icosapent ethyl","volume":"13","author":"Harris","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Clin. Lipidol."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"673","article-title":"Omega-3 fatty acids for the management of hypertriglyceridemia. A science advisory from the American Heart Association","volume":"140","author":"Wilson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1079\/BJN20061806","article-title":"Effect of n-3 fatty acids on metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoprotein in type 2 diabetic subjects","volume":"96","author":"Ouguerram","year":"2006","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1090","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(07)60527-3","article-title":"Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on major coronary events in hypercholesterolaemic patients (JELIS): A randomised open-label, blinded endpoint analysis","volume":"369","author":"Yokoyama","year":"2007","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa1812792","article-title":"Cardiovascular risk reduction with icosapent ethyl for hypertriglyceridemia","volume":"380","author":"Bhatt","year":"2019","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"(2020, April 06). AstraZeneca, Update on Phase III STRENGTH Trial for Epanova in Mixed Dyslipidaemia. Available online: https:\/\/www.astrazeneca.com\/content\/astraz\/media-centre\/press-releases\/2020\/update-on-phase-iii-strength-trial-for-epanova-in-mixed-dyslipidaemia-13012020.html."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"475","article-title":"Phytosterols in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and prevention of cardiovascular diseases","volume":"109","author":"Cabral","year":"2017","journal-title":"Arq. Bras. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2014.06.101","article-title":"Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women","volume":"81","author":"Montelius","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1016\/j.plefa.2010.06.007","article-title":"Bioavailability of marine n-3 fatty acid formulations","volume":"83","author":"Dyerberg","year":"2010","journal-title":"Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9782","DOI":"10.1021\/la1000446","article-title":"Adsorption of bile salts and pancreatic colipase and lipase onto digalactosyldiacylglycerol and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayers","volume":"26","author":"Chu","year":"2010","journal-title":"Langmuir"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3402\/fnr.v58.24465","article-title":"Postprandial effects on plasma lipids and satiety hormones from intake of liposomes made from fractionated oat oil: Two randomized crossover studies","volume":"58","author":"Ohlsson","year":"2014","journal-title":"Food Nutr. Res."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"368","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ejcn.1601326","article-title":"Dose-response effects of a novel fat emulsion (Olibra) on energy and macronutrient intakes up to 36h post-consumption","volume":"56","author":"Burns","year":"2002","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"455","article-title":"Studies in the distribution of body fat. II. Longitudinal effects of change in weight","volume":"13","author":"Shimokata","year":"1989","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1129","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114511001644","article-title":"Impact of low v. moderate intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids on risk of coronary heart disease","volume":"106","author":"Binns","year":"2011","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/12\/6\/1869\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T09:41:34Z","timestamp":1760175694000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/12\/6\/1869"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,23]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,6]]}},"alternative-id":["nu12061869"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu12061869","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,23]]}}}