Effects of intravenously infused fish oil on platelet fatty acid phospholipid composition and on platelet function in postoperative trauma.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the short-term effect of IV infusion of fish oil emulsion on the fatty acid profiles of platelet phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine and on platelet function in postoperative patients.


METHODS
Over a 7-day period, 10 patients received a 20% soybean fat emulsion with an added 10% marine fish oil emulsion, whereas 9 controls received only 20% soybean fat emulsion.


RESULTS
By comparison with controls, in patients receiving fish oil, (1) a large increase in eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) was observed in both platelet phosphatidylcholine (1.55% +/- 0.17% vs 0.38% +/- 0.06% by weight, p < .01) and phosphatidylethanolamine 2.21% +/- 0.18% vs 0.66% +/- 0.08% by weight, p < .01); (2) eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3)/arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) ratios doubled in both platelet phosphatidylcholine (p < .01) and phosphatidylethanolamine (p < .05); (3) with collagen as aggregating factor, maximal reaction speed decreased (p < .02) and latency increased (p < .002); and (4) no toxic effect, in particular no increase of postoperative bleeding and no perturbation of hepatic and renal function, was observed during the fish oil infusion.


CONCLUSIONS
A short-term IV infusion of fish oil clearly modifies the platelet composition and changes some parameters of platelet function.
Roulet
M
M
Nutrition Unit, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Frascarolo
P
P
Pilet
M
M
Chapuis
G
G
D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D005395:Fish Oils; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D010743:Phospholipids