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Omega-3-acid ethyl esters
Mechanism of action:
Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are a mixture of ethyl esters of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly composed of the ethyl ester forms of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA inhibit hepatic fatty acid synthesis and reduce the activity of diglyceride acyltransferase, lowering the liver's ability to synthesize triglycerides and thereby decreasing the production of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). They also activate nuclear receptors involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, such as PPAR-alpha, increasing the utilization of fatty acids in the liver and peripheral tissues.
Reference(s):
1. Braeckman RA et al. (2014). Pharmacokinetics of Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Plasma and Red Blood Cells After Multiple Oral Dosing With Icosapent Ethyl in Healthy Subjects. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev.
2. Koski R et al. (2008). Omega-3-acid Ethyl Esters (Lovaza) For Severe Hypertriglyceridemia. Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
3. Davidson MH et al. (2013). Omega-3 fatty acids: new insights into the pharmacology and biology of docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid. Curr Opin Lipidol.