Omega-3 fatty acid was found to significantly lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, as well as improve lipids without raising LDL-C levels in individuals with metabolic syndrome, according to a post ad-hoc exploratory analysis of 849 patients in two studies.

Compared with placebo, 4 g/day of icosapent ethyl (IPE) lowered hsCRP levels by 40% in the MARINE trial and 23% in the ANCHOR study. Further, in the MARINE trial, these levels were reduced by 78% in those taking statins. That study also saw a significant reduction in triglyceride levels (35%), non-HDL-C (19.9%), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels (9.1%) – all without raising LDL-C levels.

In ANCHOR, compared with placebo, IPE significantly lowered triglycerides (21.7%), non-HDL-C (13.5%), ApoB (8.8%), LDL-C (5.2%), and HDL-C (5%).

Citation: Bays HE. Ballantyne CM, Braeckman RA, et al. Icosapent Ethyl (Eicosapentaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester): Effects upon high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipid parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2015;13(6)239-247.