Possible effect of DHA intake on body weight reduction and lipid metabolism in obese children

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether increased intake of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) would affect the weight loss or the various biochemical parameters in the blood of obese children following dietary/physical intervention. There were 120 obese (BMIs≥30 kg/m(2); mean 33.5 ± 3.9) children included in this randomized crossover study; aged 8-12 years (10.0 ± 1.9).

Methods: The children consumed an extra 300 mg DHA and 42 mg EPA (Haliborange ®) daily for a period of 3 weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured and documented for each of the subjects at the beginning of the study, after three weeks of treatment and at the end of the study.

Results: The daily consumption of 300 mg DHA and 42 mg of EPA was associated with decreased body weight (with DHA: 86.4 ± 19.6 to 80.8 ± 20.4 kg vs. without DHA: 85.6 ± 20.8 to 80.9 ± 19.9 kg; p<0.005) and total cholesterol concentration (with DHA: 3.72 ± 0.78 to 3.32 ± 0.53 mmol/l vs. without DHA: 3.74 ± 0.78 to 3.56 ± 0.56 mmol/l; p<0.05 and respectively with DHA).

Conclusion: Daily consumption of 300 mg DHA and 42 mg EPA (Haliborange®) for 3 weeks leads to an improvement of the anthropometric and lipid parameters in obese children following dietary physical intervention.