title: Functions and tocopherol content of blood platelets from elderly people after low intake of purified eicosapentaenoic acid.
abstract: Elderly people present an increased incidence of atherosclerosis and vascular cerebral damages, associated with blood platelet hyperactivity and a stimulation of arachidonic acid metabolism in vivo. The effects of a low intake of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on platelet hyperactivity in old human subjects has been investigated. In a randomized, double blind study, 8 people took during 2 months a daily intake of 100 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) given as a triglyceride (1,3-dioctanoyl,2-eicosapentaenoyl-glycerol), and 8 other subjects ingested a placebo. A slight, but significant reduction of platelet-rich plasma aggregation in response to epinephrine and arachidonic acid occurred after EPA intake, as well as a decreased aggregation of washed platelets induced by thrombin, although collagen- and U-46619-induced aggregations were not significantly modified. EPA intake failed to affect arachidonic acid metabolism in thrombin-stimulated platelets or in clotted venous blood. The urinary excretion of thromboxane, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and their 2,3-dinor-metabolites was also not modified. Similarly, no change in the plasma and platelet lipid fatty acid compositions could be observed. Platelet, but not plasma, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol were enhanced by EPA intake. An increase of platelet vitamin E has been associated with a decrease of aggregation, especially in vitamin E-deficient subjects, like elderly people. Therefore, low intake of EPA might have contributed to inhibit platelet aggregation by increasing cellular vitamin E.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 205, Laboratoire de Chimie Biologique, INSA, Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Croset
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Véricel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigaud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanss
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courpron
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dechavanne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lagarde
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D014810:Vitamin E; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid