Omega-3 Use for the Treatment of Hypertriglyceridemia, Low High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children with Obesity.

Abstract

Background: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has been investigated in treating elevated triglycerides (TGs), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in adults, but has not been well studied in youth with obesity. This retrospective study examined the effectiveness of omega-3 as an adjunct therapy for these conditions in patients participating in a pediatric weight management program (PWMP). Methods: Patients with a BMI ≥85th percentile and abnormal alanine transaminase (ALT), TGs, or HDL, participating in our PWMP, were identified (n = 617). Patients prescribed an omega-3 were classified as treated (n = 68). Treated patients were matched (1:1) to untreated patients on the propensity for treatment. Generalized least squares regression was used to model the change in TGs, HDL, and ALT adjusted for baseline characteristics. Results: The treated (mean age 12.7 years, 60.3% male, TGs 218.7 mg/dL, ALT 49.6 U/L, HDL 34.9 mg/dL; 42.6% Hispanic, 72% severe obesity) and matched control patients showed improvement in point estimates in TGs (p = 0.62), HDL (p = 0.18), and ALT (p = 0.43) over follow-up, but the differences in change were not statistically significant. Greater improvement was observed for treated subjects over time in TGs (difference of 5% at 6.1-12 months; 10% at 12.1-18 months: 16% at 18.1-24 months) but was not statistically significant (p > 0.2). Conclusions: This study did not demonstrate that omega-3 therapy is of definitive benefit as an adjunct to lifestyle modification alone in children with obesity for hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL levels, or NAFLD. A randomized-controlled trial is required to determine the impact of omega-3 supplementation in treating these conditions in this population.

• Authors: Kristin M W Stackpole, Nicholas J Ollberding, Laurie A Smith, Paula Casson, Shelley Kirk, Robert Siegel
• Journal: Childhood obesity (Print) (Child Obes) Vol. 17 Issue 5 Pg. 357-364 (07 2021) ISSN: 2153-2176 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33844928 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cholesterol, HDL
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Lipoproteins, HDL
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• Cholesterol
• Cholesterol, HDL
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Female
• Humans
• Hypertriglyceridemia
• Lipoproteins, HDL
• Male
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (drug therapy)
• Pediatric Obesity (complications, therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Triglycerides