Effects of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha on low‐density lipoprotein particle size

N‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in part via their ability to lower plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. Surprisingly, most studies have found no effect of n‐3 PUFAs supplementation on low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐ peak particle diameter (PPD) and LDL subfraction distribution. Further, the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha ( PPARA ) L162V polymorphism may contribute to interindividual variability in CVD risk. Objective To determine the effect of n‐3 PUFA supplementation in subjects with or without the PPARA L162V polymorphism on LDL‐PPD and LDL subfractions in healthy men. Methods LDL‐PPD and LDL subfraction distribution were measured by PAGGE in 14 men carrying the V162 allele and 14 men homozygotes for the L162 allele, supplemented daily with 3g of n‐3 PUFA during 6 weeks. Results Plasma TG concentrations decreased and plasma n‐3 FAs increased after N‐3 PUFA supplementation equally in both genotype groups. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that diet, genotype and genotype‐by‐diet interaction had no effect on LDL‐PPD and LDL subfractions. Conclusion These results suggest that PPARA L162V polymorphism and n‐3 PUFA supplementation have neither individual nor combined influence on LDL particle size and composition. Funding: CIHR.