Finnish scientists have discovered that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), found in fish oil and omega-3 supplements, affects each person’s metabolism uniquely, and that its levels in the body drop quickly once supplement intake stops.
اضافة اعلان
Omega-3 fatty acids play a key role in preventing atherosclerosis.
Participants in the study showed strong but short-term increases in eicosapentaenoic acid levels, with significant variations in fat levels from one individual to another.
According to Science Daily, in the experiment, 38 volunteers were given unusually high doses of eicosapentaenoic acid supplements.
Blood samples were collected before, during, and after supplementation to observe how the body metabolizes fatty acids.
Individual Metabolic Responses
The results revealed substantial differences among participants in how their bodies responded to eicosapentaenoic acid.
Dr. Katarina Örni, a co-researcher from the University of Helsinki, explained that “each individual has a unique set of lipoproteins circulating in their blood—what we call a ‘lipid fingerprint’—which remained distinct even after taking eicosapentaenoic acid supplements.”
Rise and Rapid Decline
Researchers confirmed that eicosapentaenoic acid, one of the main omega-3 fatty acids, is efficiently absorbed, causing a sharp increase in its concentration in the blood.
However, its levels dropped rapidly once supplementation stopped.
The most pronounced changes were observed in participants who began the study with low baseline levels of eicosapentaenoic acid.
The researchers also noted that this fatty acid helped lower blood lipid levels and reduced the tendency of lipoproteins to adhere to arterial walls—an important factor in preventing atherosclerosis.
