HIV and antiretrovirals: lower triglycerides thanks to Omega-3 supplements

HIV patients with excessively high triglyceride levels can reduce the problem through the intake of Omega-3. The safety of the treatment was demonstrated by a study published in the Journal of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. A group of scientists, led by Jean-Claude Melchior from Hôpital Raymond Poincaré in Garches (France), monitored the blood fat levels of individuals managing the infection with powerful antiretroviral drugs.

Triglycerides, HIV, and Omega-3

Antiretroviral drugs enable individuals infected with HIV to achieve life expectancies comparable to the general population. However, their use is associated with increased blood fat levels. To address this side effect, Melchior and colleagues evaluated the possibility of administering fish oil rich in Omega-3 to these patients. These fatty acids are well known for their ability to reduce triglyceride levels and the so-called "bad" cholesterol in uninfected individuals.

The study

The research involved 122 patients with triglyceride levels ranging between 2 and 10 grams per liter, all undergoing antiretroviral therapy:

- 60 participants were given 2 capsules containing 1 gram of fish oil each, three times a day;

- the other patients took the same number of capsules, but containing only a placebo.

The experiment lasted 8 weeks, after which researchers found that those who took Omega-3 had triglyceride levels decreased by an average of 25.5%. In the other individuals, an increase of 1% was observed. In particular, the average triglyceride concentration after fish oil administration was 3.4 grams/liter, compared to 4.8 grams/liter in those who took the placebo. The response among Omega-3 treated individuals varied greatly from case to case, with reductions ranging from 8.4% to 40.9%. Furthermore, those who took fish oil had cholesterol levels 8.5% lower than the other patients. In the following 8 weeks, all participants took fish oil. This led to a 21.2% reduction in triglycerides even in patients previously on placebo. At the same time, prolonged treatment stabilized fat levels in those who had been taking Omega-3 from the start of the experiment.

Effective even in extreme cases

The study also included 10 patients with initial triglyceride levels above 10 grams/liter, who were given only Omega-3. In this case, the average reduction observed after 8 weeks was 43.6%.

A helpful approach without side effects

According to the researchers, these results indicate that fish oil can be a valid approach to reducing blood fats during antiretroviral therapies, especially due to the absence of side effects. The data suggest that its use can normalize triglyceride levels in 22.4% of patients, but in cases where the reduction exceeds 20%, the success rate can rise to 58.6%.