Omega-3-carboxylic acids

The omega-3 carboxylic acid (OM3-CA) is a new formulation of omega-3 fatty acids that present an enhanced bioavailability in the treatment of dyslipidemia. The increased bioavailability is explained because OM3-CA is found in a form of polyunsaturated free fatty acids as opposed to other products whose form is as ethyl esters. It is a complex mixture of the free fatty acids form containing eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid as the most abundant species found in a proportion of 55% and 20% respectively. The rest of the concentration is represented by docosapentaenoic acid and traces of some other components such as alpha-tocopherol, gelatin, glycerol, sorbitol and purified water. It was developed by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and firstly approved by the FDA on May 05, 2014.

OM3-CA is indicated as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglycerides levels in adults patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (>500 mg/dL). The patients involved in this treatment should be laced with an appropriate lipid-lowering diet.

Hypertriglyceridemia is defined as an elevated plasma triglyceride concentration. It is usually correlated to other secondary conditions such as poor diet, alcohol use, obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.