UnknownNot Applicable

Omega-3-Index Response to Eating Poultry Foods Naturally Enriched With Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Saudi Arabia80 participantsStarted 2024-02-01

Plain-language summary

Diets low in seafood omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are very prevalent. Such diets have recently been ranked as the sixth most important dietary risk factor-1.5 million deaths and 33 million disability-adjusted life-years worldwide are attributable to this deficiency. Wild oily fish stocks are insufficient to feed the world's population, and levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in farmed fish have more than halved in the last 20 years. The primary objective of this randomised, double-blinded, controlled nutritional trial will be to test if consumption of at least 4 servings of omega-3 PUFA-enriched chicken-meat and 4 enriched eggs per week, over a 4-month period, results in measurably higher blood levels of EPA and DHA in healthy Saudi adults. This will be a randomised double-blind interventional study. Eighty adult male and female participants (age ≥ 18 years of age) will be asked to eat at least 4 portions of omega-3-PUFA enriched (or control) chicken-meat per week, and at least 4 omega-3-PUFA enriched (or control) eggs per week, for 4 months. Participants will be assessed at baseline and at monthly intervals for 4 months. Assessments at these visits will include; comprehensive lifestyle and medical history; food frequency questionnaire; 3 days food record; height, weight, waist and hip circumferences; blood sampling; participant well-being and adverse events. Measurement of plasma and red blood cell levels of EPA, DHA and Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) will be performed at baseline and at study end using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The primary end point will be the change in red blood cell omega-3-index (sum of EPA and DHA expressed as percentage of total fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes) at 4 months. The nutritional trial will be analyzed on an intension to treat basis. Repeated measures ANOVA will be used to compare the two study groups. The study will be reported in accordance with the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2010 statement.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 70 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults (≥ 18 years and \< 70 years) * Regular consumers (≥ 4 portions weekly) or willing to be regular consumers of chicken-meat. * Regular consumers (≥ 4 eggs weekly) or willing to be regular consumers of eggs. * Able to give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Concurrent or recent (within last 3 months) regular intake of long-chain omega-3-PUFA supplements (containing EPA, DPA and/or DHA). * Previous diagnosis of; * significant cardiovascular disease (e.g. myocardial infarction, coronary intervention, or stroke), * significant mental ill-health (e.g. major depression, psychosis or dementia) or * a haemoglobinopathy such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassemia . * Any other serious medical condition that may adversely affect the patient's safety, limit the subject's ability to participate in the study, comply with follow-up requirements or impact the scientific integrity of the study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change from baseline in the red cell omega-3 index at 4 months

Timeframe: 4 months (16 weeks)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06259825

SponsorKing Abdulaziz University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-10

Contact for this trial

Alice V Stanton, MB, PhD

+353872885480 astanton@rcsi.ie

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