Objective: Long chain fatty acids especially omega-3 (OM3) fatty acids are very important for protection of cardiac health and fighting against myocardial infarction. We evaluated the effects of OM3 fatty acids added on HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in patients with combined hyperlipideamia.

Materials and Methods: Fifty five patients with coronary artery disease who have combined hyperlipidaemia and thought to be treated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors were included. Patients were divided in two groups; atorvastatin 20 mg/day was given to Group A (mean age: 49±5 yrs, n:27, 11 female) and atorvastatin 20mg/day+OM3 fatty acids 3gr/day were given to Group B (mean age: 51±9 yrs, n:28; 13 female) for four weeks. At the end of this period; levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were measured once more and results were compared.

Results: Basal clinical characteristics of the groups were similar (p>0.05). During the follow-up period in group A we saw a significant decrease in TC (28%, p:0.02), LDL (35%, p:0.001), TG (%28, p:0.01) and an insignificant increase in HDL (%5, p:0.067). Patients in group B had 39% decrease in TC (p:0.001), 40% decrease in LDL (p:0.001), 41% decrease in TG (p:0.001) and they had a 19% increase in HDL (p:0.02). By adding OM3; reduction rate in TC and TG levels in group B were significantly higher than the results in Group A (p<0.05).

Conclusion: In this study we saw that OM3 fatty acids added-on HMg-CoA reductase inhibitors in combined hyperlipidaemia would be more effective on lipid parameters than the expected reduction with solely used HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.