Effects of milk enriched with ω-3 fatty acid, oleic acid and folic acid in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background & aims: Patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) have increased cardiovascular risk factors. Dietary modifications mainly polyunsatturated fatty acids intake, can improve them. The present study was performed to assess the effects of enriched milk with omega-3 and oleic fatty acids, folic acid and vitamin E, in these patients. Methods: We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled and open clinical trial, among 72 patients with MS for 3 months. Thirty-six of them consumed 500 cm(3) per day of semi-skimmed milk (control group), and the others consumed 500 cm(3) per day of enriched milk (test group). Daily supplements in this group were 5.7 g of oleic acid, 0.2 g of omega-3 fatty acid, 150 mu g of folic acid and 7.5 mg of vitamin E. Serum for total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerol, Apo B, glucose, insulin, hs-CRP, homocysteine and fatty acids contents in serum phospholipids, was obtained at the beginning and at the end of the study. LDL cholesterol was calculated by Friedewald formula. Results: Four patients in the test group, and two in the control group dropped out. In the test group a decrease in serum total cholesterol (-6.2%, P = 0.006), LDL cholesterol (-7.5%, P = 0.032), trigtycerol (-13.3%, P = 0.016), Apo B (-5.7%, P = 0.036), glucose (-5.3%, P = 0.013), and homocysteine (-9.5%, P = 0.00) was observed. Any of these parameters changed in the control group. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with 500 cm(3) of enriched milk with omega-3 fatty acid, oleic acid and folic acid, reduces serum tryglicerides, total and LDL cholesterol, Apo B, glucose and homocysteine in patients with MS. This milk is well tolerated and accepted by the patients. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.