New Brazilian Trial to Test Heart-Healthy Diet Plus Krill Oil and Plant Sterols for High Cholesterol
This article describes the design of a new clinical trial (not yet completed) taking place in Brazil, called the DICA-FH study. It will look at people with familial hypercholesterolaemia, a genetic condition that causes very high cholesterol levels, to see how a culturally adapted heart-healthy eating pattern compares when combined with phytosterol supplements, krill oil supplements, both, or neither.
About 300 participants aged 16 and older, all already on cholesterol-lowering medication, will be randomly assigned to one of four groups in a factorial design. Everyone will follow the same modified cardioprotective diet, but will additionally receive either a phytosterol supplement, a krill oil supplement, both, or matching placebos. The researchers will measure changes in LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) after 120 days, along with other lipid markers, diet adherence, and side effects.
Because this is only a study protocol, no results are available yet. The trial is registered and ethically approved, with follow-up expected to finish around mid-2026.
What this means for you
This is a planned study, not a completed one, so there are no findings yet about whether krill oil or phytosterols help with cholesterol in this context. It’s worth watching for future results, but no conclusions can be drawn at this stage.
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Start the ALP ProtocolThis summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.