Effect of fatty and lean fish intake on lipoprotein subclasses in subjects with coronary heart disease: A controlled trial

► We aimed at assessing the effect of fatty and lean fish on the lipoprotein subclasses in a dietary intervention study involving subjects with coronary heart disease.
► The main finding was that the HDL particle size increased in subjects who ate at least 4 meals of fatty fish per week.

BackgroundFish oil intake reduces serum triglycerides; however, little is known about the effects of dietary fish intake on lipoprotein subclasses.ObjectiveWe aimed at assessing the effect of fatty and lean fish intake on the lipoprotein subclasses in an intervention study.MethodsThe intervention study included 33 patients with coronary heart disease, who were aged 61.0 ± 5.8 (mean ± SD) years. The subjects were randomly assigned to a fatty fish (n = 11), lean fish (n = 12), or control (n = 10) diet for 8 weeks. Fish diets included at least 4 fish meals per week. Subjects in the control group consumed lean beef, pork, and chicken. Lipoprotein subclasses and their lipid components were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.ResultsConcentrations of n-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid increased in the fatty fish group. The concentrations of cholesterol, cholesterol esters, and total lipids in very large high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) increased in the fatty fish group (overall difference P = .005, P = .002, and P = .007, respectively; false discovery rate P = .04, P = .04, and P = .05, respectively). The mean size of HDL particles increased in the fatty fish group (9.8 ± 0.3 nm at baseline and 9.9 ± 0.4 nm at end of study; overall difference P = .004, false discovery rate P = .04). The fish diets did not affect very-low-density lipoprotein or low-density lipoprotein size.ConclusionFatty fish intake at least 4 times per week increases HDL particle size which might have beneficial effect in patients with coronary heart disease.