title: Comparison of the absorption and effect on platelet function of a single dose of n-3 fatty acids given as fish or fish oil.
abstract: To compare their relative absorption and effect on platelet function, concentrated fish oil and tuna were given to 10 subjects in a randomized crossover study. Although plasma enrichment of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from either preparation was similar, relative absorption of EPA from tuna was significantly greater than that from fish oil (46.6 +/- 3.0 mg.L-1.g EPA-1 from tuna compared with 16 +/- 1.0 mg.L-1.g EPA-1 from fish oil, P less than 0.001). Relative absorption of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was equivalent (54.0 +/- 9.0 mg.L-1.g DHA-1 from tuna, 56 +/- 9.0 mg.L-1.g DHA-1 from fish oil, NS). Platelet aggregation in response to the endoperoxide analog U46619 was significantly diminished after either preparation but aggregation in response to other agonists, bleeding time, and membrane n-3 (omega-3) fatty acid content were not changed. Thus, n-3 fatty acids are well absorbed after one dose of either tuna or fish oil but EPA absorption appears to be more efficient from tuna. Additionally, a single dose of n-3 fatty acids decreases platelet aggregation by a mechanism not requiring incorporation into platelet membranes.
authors.affiliation: Charles A Dana Research Institute, Cardiovascular Division, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pasternak
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001760:Bleeding Time; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014413:Tuna
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid