Omega 3, vitamin E and niacin

Indication: Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Source: Journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2006;16:121-127.

Research: Fifty-seven subjects participated in a blinded, randomized trial over a period of four months. The subjects were divided into three groups—the first received a placebo, the second received a supplement containing omega 3 fatty acids (660 mg EPA, 440 DHA) and vitamin E (4 mg) and the third group received the same as the second group plus niacin (18 mg) and gamma-oryzanol (40 mg).

Results: Over the study period, total antioxidant capacity increased significantly. Specifically, total antioxidant capacity in group two increased by 33.55 mm/ml, while in group three total antioxidant capacity increased 84 mm/ml. Pro-inflammatory cytokines also decreased as a result of supplementation. Researchers concluded that supplementation particularly for group three was successful at mitigating a lot of the risk factors that lead to CVD. They said further this was likely due to the number of complementing mechanisms.