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CompletedNCT06538324RIOUpdated Sep 25, 2025

Response to an Intervention With Omega-3 (RIO - Study)

An interventional study of Omega-3 and HOSO in Overweight and Hypertriglyceridemia, sponsored by Universidad San Sebastián. Completed at 1 site in Chile. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-25.

Sponsored by Universidad San Sebastián · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The RIO-Study project is a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover trial aimed at determining the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids at nutritional doses on lipid metabolism and inflammation in overweight and obese individuals with hypertriglyceridemia in Chile.

Read the detailed description

The study will include 40 participants (each participant will serve as their own control) aged 18-65, with 25-34.9 kg/m2 BMI and fasting triglycerides (TG) of 100-215 mg/dL. The intervention consists of 250 mg EPA from algae oil versus high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) for 6 weeks each, after a 10-week washout period, the treatments will be switched for another 6 weeks, considering four visits during the whole study. The main outcomes to be evaluated are serum triglyceride levels, expression of target genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), low-grade inflammation biomarkers, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) atherogenic properties. The study also analyzes background diet, chrononutrition, and physical activity aspects. Results are expected to provide new insights into the effects of nutritional doses of omega-3 in the Chilean population, particularly on fasting and postprandial triglyceride metabolism and cardiovascular disease risk reduction.

Before and after each intervention period, fasting blood samples will be collected. On each visit day, participants will consume a standardized breakfast (three slices of white bread with butter and jam), and postprandial blood samples will be taken at 0, 2, 4, and 6 hours to measure triglycerides and other lipid parameters.

The study will assess:

  1. Serum triglyceride levels in fasting and postprandial states
  2. Expression of target genes Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1c) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at fasting (0h) and postprandial (4h) states
  3. Levels of low-grade inflammation biomarkers Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNFα) and Interleukin 6 ( IL-6) at fasting (0h) and postprandial (4h) states
  4. Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) atherogenic properties in the fasting state Additionally, the investigators will collect data on chrononutrition, physical activity, and energy drink intake to understand their impact on lipid metabolism. Anthropometric measurements and bioimpedance analysis will be performed at each visit.

The study will collaborate with international partners for specialized analyses, including gene expression studies and VLDL atherogenic properties assessment.

This comprehensive approach aims to provide new insights into the effects of nutritional doses of omega-3 fatty acids on lipid metabolism and inflammation in the Chilean population, with a particular focus on postprandial triglyceride metabolism and cardiovascular disease risk reduction.

02

Conditions studied

  • Overweight
  • Hypertriglyceridemia

Keywords

  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Lipid profile
  • Inflammatory profile
  • Postprandial TG response
03

In context

Overweight

3,670 studies on the registry are indexed under Overweight; 849 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 40 is below the median of 73 across 3,175 interventional studies indexed under Overweight.

Browse Overweight studies →

Lead sponsor

Universidad San Sebastián is the lead sponsor of 13 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults between 18 and 65 years old, male and female.
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 25 - 34,9 kg/m2.
  • Fasting triglycerides between 100-215 mg/dL (1.13-2.43 mmol/L).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to give informed consent.
  • If you consume Omega-3 (you must stop consumption at least 10 weeks prior).
  • Normal or Obesity Nutritional Status. Large weight variation (>10%) in the last 3 months.
  • Triglycerides > 215 mg/dL.
  • Blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg.
  • Uncontrolled metabolic and chronic diseases (reference parameters for the disease in question will be considered).
  • Pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding.
  • Allergy or intolerance to gluten, milk protein and/or lactose, or any ingredient in the capsules (omega-3, oleic acid oil).
  • Use of medications that affect lipid metabolism: Fibrates. (Statins will be allowed only if the treatment has been ongoing for over 3 months).
  • Blood donation two months before or during the study period.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption (>3 cans of beer per day)
  • Taking anticoagulants.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
40 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Marine Omega-3 fatty acid supplement

    Participants will be randomized to either star to receive a capsule/day with omega-3 fatty acid from 1g Nannochloropsis sp. microalga (250 mg of EPA) for 6 weeks. Followed by a wash-out period of 10 weeks.

    Dietary Supplement: Omega-3

  • Placebo comparator
    High-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) containing no EPA or other omega-3 fatty acid

    Participants will be randomized to either star to receive a placebo capsule/day with the same weight of high oleic sunflower oil -HOSO (with no EPA or other omega-3 fatty acid content), for 6 weeks. Followed by a wash-out period of 10 weeks.

    Dietary Supplement: HOSO

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementOmega-3

    Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 In the marine Omega-3 fatty acid period, the participants will receive a capsule with 250 mg of EPA per day during 6 weeks.

  • Dietary supplementHOSO

    Dietary Supplement: HOSO In the HOSO period, the participants will receive a capsule with the similar weight of HOSO per day during 6 weeks.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Fasting TG (mg/dL)

    Baseline serum levels of circulating triglycerides

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postprandial TG (mg/dL)

    Triglyceride concentration (mg/dL) measured by enzymatic colorimetric assay at baseline (fasting) and at 2, 4, and 6 hours after consumption of a standardized 50 g fat meal.

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

  2. Change in mRNA expression levels of lipid metabolism genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)

    Fold change in mRNA expression of genes of lipid metabolism in PBMCs at 0h and 4h, measured by RT-qPCR

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

  3. Change in concentrations (pg/mL) of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6

    Serum concentrations (pg/mL) of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at fasting (0h) and 4 hours postprandial following a standardized test meal

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

  4. Fasting serum Low-Density Lipoproteins, High-Density Lipoproteins, Very Low-Density Lipoproteins (mg/dL)

    Fasting levels before and after intake of omega-3 or HOSO

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

  5. Fasting plasma glucose concentration (mg/dL)

    Fasting levels before and after intake of omega-3 or HOSO

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Universidad San Sebastián
    Valdivia, Los Ríos Region 5090000, Chile
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 25, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06538324
Lead sponsor
Universidad San Sebastián
Responsible party
Viviana Sandoval (Researcher at the University San Sebastian, Universidad San Sebastián) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 5, 2024
Start date
Jul 30, 2024
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2025
Completion
Jun 30, 2025
Last update
Sep 25, 2025

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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