Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids prolongs platelet survival in hyperlipidemic patients with atherosclerosis.
Enhanced dietary omega-3 fatty acid consumption is thought to be associated with a reduced incidence of atherothrombotic disorders. This effect may be mediated in part through suppression of in vivo platelet activity by omega-3 fatty acids. We observed that platelet survival, a sensitive indicator of in vivo platelet activity was prolonged from 6.4 +/- 1.5 days to 7.7 +/- 1.4 days by moderate amounts of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for 6 weeks in a group of hyperlipidemic patients with preexisting, established atherothrombotic disorders. This effect on platelet survival was associated with a decrease in platelet arachidonic acid levels from 26.7 +/- 3.5% to 20.9% +/- 2.5% and a rise in platelet eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid measurements from essentially undetectable to 2.8% +/- 1.6% and 1.9% +/- 1.0%. Plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum apolipoprotein B levels rose significantly during the omega-3 fatty acid supplementation period. Platelet aggregation did not change. This study demonstrates that a modest amount of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can significantly effect in vivo platelet activity in a population at high risk for recurrent atherothrombotic disorders.
Levine
P H
PH
Department of Medicine, Worcester Memorial Hospital, MA 01605.
Fisher
M
M
Schneider
P B
PB
Whitten
R H
RH
Weiner
B H
BH
Ockene
I S
IS
Johnson
B F
BF
Johnson
M H
MH
Doyle
E M
EM
Riendeau
P A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid