Recruiting

EPA

Sponsor:

University of Toronto

Code:

NCT06975241

Conditions

Healthy

Omega 3

Metabolism, Lipids

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 35

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

EPA 2.4g/day

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical study is to learn how fast EPA is converted to other molecules, including DHA, with consideration of biological sex and genetics in healthy humans.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • How fast is EPA converted to DHA in blood, and is the conversion rate affected by sex and a specific genotype we previously identified?
  • How do sex and the specific genotypes affect blood DHA levels and other products of DHA in response to dietary EPA?
  • How fast does dietary EPA replace blood EPA and other omega-3 fatty acids, and is the rate affected by sex and genotype?

Participants will be asked to take EPA supplements for 12 weeks and provide a series of venous blood samples over the study duration.

Conditions

Healthy

Omega 3

Metabolism, Lipids

Study ID

NCT06975241

Start date

Jul 29, 2025

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Sep, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 35

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • BMI between 18.5- 30 kg/m2
  • healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Consumption of fish/seafood or EPA/DHA-enriched foods currently or within the previous 6 months
  • Consumption of any supplements containing ALA/EPA/DHA currently or within the previous 6 months
  • Allergies to any component of the study supplement (fish, gelatin etc.)
  • BMI <18.5 kg/m² or >30 kg/m²
  • Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning on becoming pregnant
  • Diagnosis with chronic or communicable diseases
  • Prescription of chronic pharmacological medications (except for oral contraceptives)
  • High blood pressure (systolic or diastolic blood pressure above 130 or 80mmHg, respectively)
  • Hypertriglyceridemia (serum > or = 1.69 mmol/l)
  • Hypercholesterolemia (serum LDL-C > or =5 mmol/l)
  • Anticipated changes in lifestyle within the next 4 months
  • Smoking
  • Heavy alcohol use (>3 drinks/day)
  • Major surgery in the last six months

Study Design

Enrollment

64 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: EPA Supplementation

32 males and 32 females will be enrolled in the EPA supplementation arm, with an equal number of GA+GG and AA genotypes (rs953413 SNP) among males and females.

Interventions

EPA 2.4g/day

EPA from fish oil will be supplemented to an equal number of males and females for 12 weeks.

Primary outcome measure

  • Plasma DHA synthesis/turnover rates [ Time Frame: Day 0, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, 84 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre

Recruiting

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5C 2T2

Contacts

Study Coordinator

4168677487dandan.li2@unityhealth.to

More Information

Sponsor

University of Toronto

Last update posted

Feb 27, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • eicosapentaenoic acid
  • omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
  • lipid metabolism
  • healthy adults
  • docosahexaenoic acid
  • single nucleotide polymorphism
  • elongation of very long-chain 2

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Toronto on 2026-02-27.