title: Effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from plant and marine origin on platelet aggregation in healthy elderly subjects.
abstract: In the present intervention study we compared the effects of alpha-linolenic acid with those of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo in healthy non-institutionalized elderly subjects. We also compared the effects of alpha-linolenic acid on platelet aggregation in elderly subjects with those in younger volunteers. During a run-in period of 3 weeks all subjects (thirty-eight elderly (> 60 years) and twelve younger volunteers (< 35 years)) received a diet rich in oleic acid. For the next 6 weeks the elderly subjects received a diet rich in oleic acid (n 11), alpha-linolenic acid (n 14) (6.8 g/d) or EPA/DHA (n 13) (1.05 g EPA plus 0.55 g DHA). The younger subjects were given a diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid. The diets did not affect ADP- or collagen-induced platelet aggregation in vitro in either platelet-rich plasma or whole blood. The ex vivo platelet aggregation as measured with filtragometry was significantly decreased in the elderly group that received EPA/DHA compared with the alpha-linolenic acid (P = 0.006) and the oleic acid (P = 0.005) diet groups. Effects of alpha-linolenic acid were not age-dependent. Our results suggest that alpha-linolenic acid and EPA/DHA do not change in vitro platelet aggregation. Compared with oleic acid, EPA/DHA, but not alpha-linolenic acid, favourably affects ex vivo platelet aggregation in healthy elderly subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wensing
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mensink
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hornstra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid