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ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
NCT07289919
NA

Exploring Sustainable Alternatives to Marine Oils With Echium and Ahiflower Oils

Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

This randomized, single-blind, crossover clinical trial aims to evaluate Echium oil and Ahiflower® oil as sustainable, plant-based alternatives to marine oils for omega-3 supplementation. Although fish oil is the primary dietary source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), its use as a dietary supplementation presents several drawbacks, including high cost, potential contamination, limited global supply, and sustainability concerns. Echium and Ahiflower oils are naturally rich in stearidonic acid (SDA), a metabolic intermediate that bypasses the rate-limiting Δ6-desaturase step in the omega-3 pathway, potentially enhancing the conversion to EPA. Fifteen participants will undergo three 8-week intervention phases-Echium oil (15 g/day), Ahiflower oil (15 g/day), or EPA capsules (2.34 g/day)-separated by four-week washout periods. Blood samples will be collected before and after each phase to measure fatty acid profiles in plasma, plasma fractions, and erythrocytes using GC-MS. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters will also be assessed. The study seeks to determine whether SDA-rich plant oils can effectively increase EPA levels in humans and potentially reduce the reliance on marine oils for cardiovascular health benefits.

Official title: Exploring Sustainable Alternatives to Marine Oils: A Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Echium and Ahiflower Oils for Omega-3 Supplementation.

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - 30 Years

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

15

Start Date

2025-05-26

Completion Date

2026-12-31

Last Updated

2025-12-17

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Echium oil

Participants consume 15 g/day of Echium oil, incorporated into meals, during one 8-week phase.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ahiflower oil

Participants consume 15 g/day of Ahiflower® oil, incorporated into meals, during one 8-week phase.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

EPA capsules

Participants consume three EPA capsules daily (totaling 2.34 g/day), taken with meals, during one 8-week phase.

Locations (1)

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP)

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil