Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and human platelet function: a review with particular emphasis on implications for cardiovascular disease.
The low incidence of myocardial infarction in Greenland Eskimos may be due to their intake of marine food with a high content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In Eskimos the platelet count is lowered, the platelet aggregation is inhibited, the bleeding time is prolonged and the ratio between proaggregatory thromboxanes and anti-aggregatory prostacyclins is decreased, when compared to age- and sex-matched Danes. In this review, studies evaluating the effect of a fish diet or fish-oil supplementation on human platelet function are summarized. Most studies have demonstrated that supplementation with n-3 PUFAs can cause inhibition of platelet behaviour. The optimal dose of n-3 PUFAs and the patient groups most likely to profit from supplementation need to be defined. The safety and the clinical effect of the supplementation should be investigated in long-term studies.
Kristensen
S D
SD
University Department of Medicine and Cardiology, County Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark.
Schmidt
E B
EB
Dyerberg
J
J
D001760:Bleeding Time; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D011464:Epoprostenol