September 16/Beijing/Science Letter --  A new study, "Inclusion of Atlantic Salmon in the Chinese Diet Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Risk Markers in Dyslipidemic Adult Men," is now available. "Although the beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids on several physiologic functions have been widely reported, information about the effects of oily fish in the Asian diet on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is diminutive. We hypothesize that daily inclusion of oily fish for eight weeks in the Chinese diet will elevate serum eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and reduce CVD risk markers in dyslipidemic adult men, comparable with the effects generally observed by inclusion of oily fish in the Western diet," scientists in Beijing, China, report.

"In this eight-week randomized, parallel-arm, food-based intervention study, lunches were prepared with 500g pork/chicken/beef, typically consumed fish (hairtail and freshwater carp), or oily fish (salmon). Male subjects aged between 35-70 years with hyperlipidemia were randomly assigned to eat lunches with pork/chicken/beef (n=30 subjects at eight weeks), freshwater fish (n=30), or oily fish (n=32). Circulating markers were measured at baseline and at eight weeks. In the oily fish diet, dietary EPA and DHA levels were significantly increased as compared with other diets; and the n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio was decreased (p <.05). Thus, the oily fish diet significantly elevated serum EPA and DHA concentrations (p <.01) and lowered serum n-6:n-3 ratio at eight weeks (p <.05). Furthermore, oily fish intake significantly reduced serum levels of triglycerides (p <.05) and interleukin-6 (p <.01) and increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p <.01)," wrote J. Zhang and colleagues, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers concluded, "Daily inclusion of oily fish as part of the Chinese diet for eight weeks is sufficient to significantly increase the serum content of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and reduce levels of CVD risk markers in dyslipidemic adult men."

Zhang and colleagues published their study in Nutrition Research ("Inclusion of Atlantic Salmon in the Chinese Diet Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Risk Markers in Dyslipidemic Adult Men," Nutrition Research, 2010;30(7):447-54).

For additional information, contact J. Zhang, Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.

From the October 4, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition