Effects of EPA, γ-linolenic acid or coenzyme Q10 on serum prostate-specific antigen levels: a randomised, double-blind trial.

The main objective of the present study was to determine the potential of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids or coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) to alter serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in normal healthy men. A total of 504 healthy men with serum PSA level <= 2.5 ng/ml were recruited into the study. Serum PSA values were not segregated by decade of age. Participants were randomly assigned to a daily dietary supplement containing n-3 fatty acids (1.12 g of EPA and 0.72 g of DHA per capsule) (group 1, n 126), n-6 fatty acid (600 mg gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) each capsule) (group 2, n 126), CoQ(10) (100 mg per capsule) (group 3, n 126) or a similar regimen of placebo (group 4, n 126) for 12 weeks. Study medication was administered as two capsules to be taken twice daily. Serum levels of PSA, EPA, DHA, GLA, lipid profile and reproductive hormones were also measured. EPA treatment significantly reduced serum PSA level by 30.0 (95% CI 25, 36)% (P=0.004) from baseline. In contrast, GLA therapy significantly increased serum PSA concentration by 15.0 (95% CI 11, 20)% (P-0.02). CoQ(10) therapy also significantly reduced serum PSA level by 33.0 (95% CI 27, 40)% (P=0.002). In multivariable analysis, serum values of PSA were strongly correlated with duration of EPA (r-0.62; 95% CI - 0.42, -0.77; P=0.003), n-6 (r0.42; 95% CI 0.31, 0.58; P=0.02) and CoQ(10) use (r-0.77; 95% CI-0.56, -0.87; P=0.001). There were also significant correlations between serum values of DHA, EPA, GLA and CoQ(10) and serum PSA levels. The present study demonstrates that dietary supplements containing EPA, GLA or CoQ(10) may significantly affect serum PSA levels.