COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING A FATTY ACID DESATURATION INDEX IN A SUBJECT IN NEED THEREOF

1 . A method of lowering triglycerides and a fatty acid desaturation index (“FADI”) associated with a subject on statin therapy having baseline fasting triglycerides of about 200 mg/dl to about 500 mg/dl, the method comprising determining a baseline FADI level associated with the subject; and thereafter administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising about 4 grams per day of ethyl eicosapentaenoate to effect a reduction in triglycerides and the FADI associated with the subject.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a baseline LDL-C level associated with the subject before administering the ethyl eicosapentaenoate, wherein the baseline LDL-C level is about 40 mg/dl to about 115 mg/dl.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of administering the pharmaceutical composition effects a reduction in serum LDL-C and/or fasting triglycerides.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of administering the pharmaceutical composition effects at least a 5% reduction in LDL-C and/or fasting triglycerides.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of administering the pharmaceutical composition effects at least a 10% or at least a 15% reduction in triglycerides.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of administering the pharmaceutical composition effects a reduction in FADI of at least about 2%, at least about 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 6%, at least about 7%, at least about 8%, at least about 9%, at least about 10%, at least about 11%, at least about 12%, at least about 13%, at least about 14%, at least about 15%, at least about 16%, at least about 17%, at least about 18%, at least about 19%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 55%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or greater than about 95%.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of administering the pharmaceutical composition effects a reduction in Apolipoprotein B, total cholesterol, and lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises not more than about 5% docosahexaenoic acid or its esters, or not more than about 3% docosahexaenoic acid or its esters, by weight of all fatty acids present.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered the pharmaceutical composition for a period of at least about 12 weeks.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, by weight of all fatty acids present, ethyl eicosapentaenoate.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the statin is selected from the group consisting of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a baseline body mass index not greater than 45 kg/m 2 .

13 . The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of determining a second fatty acid desaturation index FADI associated with the subject after initiating ethyl eicosapentaenoate therapy.

14 . A method of lowering triglycerides, LDL-C and a fatty acid desaturation index (“FADI”) associated with a subject having fasting triglycerides of about 200 mg/dl to less than 500 mg/dl who is on stable statin therapy, the method comprising determining a baseline FADI level associated with the subject and thereafter administering orally to the subject about 4 g per day of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least about 90%, by weight of all fatty acids present, ethyl eicosapentaenoate for a period of at least about 12 weeks to effect a reduction in triglycerides, LDL-C, and the FADI associated with the subject.

15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition to effect a reduction in fasting triglycerides and fasting LDL-C in the subject compared to fasting triglycerides and fasting LDL-C in a second subject on stable statin therapy who has not received the pharmaceutical composition.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition to effect a reduction in fasting non-HDL-C, VLDL-C, Apolipoprotein B, and/or fasting total cholesterol compared to fasting non-HDL-C, VLDL-C, Apolipoprotein B, and/or fasting total cholesterol in the second subject.

17 . The method of claim 14 further comprising a step of determining a second FADI associated with the subject, the second FADI being lower than the baseline FADI.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the second FADI is at least about 2% lower than the baseline FADI.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least about 95% by weight of all fatty acids present, ethyl eicosapentaenoate.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises no more than about 5% by weight of all fatty acids present, docosahexaenoic acid or its esters.

21 . A method of lowering a fatty acid desaturation index (“FADI”) associated with a subject having fasting triglycerides of about 200 mg/dl to less than 500 mg/dl who is on stable statin therapy, the method comprising determining a baseline FADI associated with the subject and thereafter administering orally to the subject about 4 g per day of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least about 90%, by weight of all fatty acids present, ethyl eicosapentaenoate for a period of at least about 12 weeks.

22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising a step of determining a second fatty acid desaturation index FADI associated with the subject after administering the pharmaceutical composition.

23 . A method of lowering a fatty acid desaturation index (“FADI”) associated with a subject on statin therapy having baseline fasting triglycerides of about 200 mg/dl to about 500 mg/dl, the method comprising determining a baseline FADI associated with the subject and thereafter administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising about 4 g per day of ethyl eicosapentaenoate.

24 . The method of claim 23 further comprising a step of determining a second fatty acid desaturation index FADI associated with the subject after administering the pharmaceutical composition.